Chargers stumped by league-worst goal-to-go turnovers - OCRegister

COSTA MESA — When there’s nowhere else to go, the Chargers haven’t been able to find the end zone on five particular occasions this season.

Five costly and memorable occasions.

No team in the NFL has more turnovers in goal-to-go situations. Twenty-six teams have none or one goal-to-go turnover, and 17 teams have a clean record. The Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers are tied for second with three goal-to-go turnovers. The undefeated 49ers can afford such mistakes because they’re winning by wide margins.

The Chargers, whose five defeats this season have all come by one score, have paid the price for their ill-timed blunders.

“We do know the consequences of those (turnovers) have been severe,” quarterback Philip Rivers said Wednesday.

Four of the five goal-to-go turnovers have come during three losses. If the Chargers scored touchdowns on those drives, they might have entered Week 8 with a record of 5-2.

Instead, they’re 2-5, and they’ll go to Soldier Field with a must-win situation Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

The Chargers are well aware of these issues, but have been unable to correct them.

In Week 5, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn was criticized for running a failed jet sweep with Austin Ekeler instead of handing it to Melvin Gordon for a one-yard touchdown run before halftime against the Denver Broncos.

Last week, Lynn gave it to Gordon at the 1-yard line against the Tennessee Titans. He was stopped twice and fumbled to ball away on the second try, which led to more criticism for Lynn.

Perhaps it’s not the plays being called. It goes back to Lynn’s simplistic answer, the one he’s given all season — they must execute better.

“I don’t think we can go out there and do a drill to help us not turn it over,” Rivers said. “Nobody is trying to (turn it over). … I don’t know if there is anything that you can say, ‘Oh yeah, we got that fixed today.’ I think, unfortunately, those things happen.”

The goal-line mistakes have affected the Chargers’ running backs mentally. Ekeler didn’t reach with the ball to try to break the plane on his 16-yard catch that was initially ruled a touchdown, then reversed and spotted at the 1-yard line in the final minute against the Titans. He admitted he didn’t extend because he has multiple goal-line fumbles this season.

Gordon knows not to switch hands with the football in traffic, but he desperately wanted to make the winning-play after a struggling start to the season. He went for the reach and lost the ball before crossing the end zone.

“I never do that,” Gordon said about switching hands. “I pride myself on not fumbling, especially after my rookie year, and they caught me slipping.”

Gordon, who had six fumbles in his rookie year, only had one fumble in each of the past two seasons. He already has two in three games this season.

“In critical situations, just fall back on your technique and fundamentals,” Lynn said about Gordon’s costly fumble. “You’ll always prevail when you can do that. That was a situation where he should have had two hands on the ball the whole time. He was trying to, I guess maybe reach a little bit and get the ball to the end zone.”

CHARGERS’ FIVE GOAL-TO-GO TURNOVERS

1. Rivers’ interception to Malik Hooker vs. Indianapolis Colts, Week 1, 4th quarter, 2nd-and-7, 8:39

This one didn’t cost the Chargers a victory, but it forced them into overtime. The Colts scored a touchdown on the following drive and had the game-tying 2-point conversion after Hooker’s one-handed takeaway in front of wide receiver Keenan Allen.

2. Ekeler’s goal-line fumble vs. Detroit Lions, Week 2, 3rd quarter, 1st-and-1, 8:32

Ekeler scored a 1-yard touchdown by jumping over the Lions’ defense in the first quarter, so why not do it again? Ekeler lost the football on his second jump, and it came on a drive that had two touchdowns called back by penalty. The Chargers didn’t score in the second half and lost 13-10.

3. Ekeler’s jet sweep fumble vs. Denver Broncos, Week 5, 2nd quarter, 4th-and-1, 7 seconds

Rivers gave a fake handoff to Gordon and tossed it to Ekeler, who ran in front of Gordon. As Ekeler made his way around the left side of the field, he was hit by Kareem Jackson during his extension. Ekeler lost the ball before hitting the pylon and the Chargers entered halftime with a 17-0 deficit before losing 20-13. Rivers defended Ekeler’s reach.

“Ekeler’s (fumble) against Denver, it’s fourth down,” Rivers said. “There’s no time on the clock. You have to reach and try to score that ball. I don’t know how that one really even counts (as a goal-to-go turnover).”

4. Rivers’ interception to Alexander Johnson vs. Denver Broncos, Week 5, 3rd quarter, 3rd-and-2, 2:14

Rivers couldn’t defend this one. He said it was a bad decision on his part. Johnson jumped in front of wide receiver Mike Williams in the end zone to keep the Chargers scoreless and gave the Broncos their third takeaway of the game. A few minutes later, Desmond King had touchdown punt return. If Ekeler and Rivers don’t turn it over, the Chargers might have taken the lead after King’s run.

5. Gordon’s goal-line fumble vs. Tennessee Titans, Week 7, 4th quarter, 2nd-and-1, 19 seconds

Gordon was given the ball because he had 28 career rushing touchdowns. He couldn’t get No. 29, and he had two tries. He was ruled to have been stopped short of the goal line on first down before his fumble on second. The Chargers lost 23-20.

“It was just unfortunate because that young man has scored more touchdowns than anyone on this team, I think in the last three years,” Lynn said. “That’s what he’s made for — those situations right there. Technique and fundamentals right there would have helped him a lot.”

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