The Chargers’ defense forced five turnovers against the Bills, creating multiple scoring opportunities. The offense, however, managed just one touchdown across four red-zone trips and failed to turn most of those takeaways into points.
Quarterback Justin Herbert finished 20-of-34 for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
In his postgame comments, Herbert repeatedly pointed the finger at himself and the offense.
“Obviously not where we want to be,” Herbert said. “It starts with me. I’ve got to play better and allow our offense to score more points.”
He echoed the same theme elsewhere: “We’re 0-3, we’re not where we want to be.” And more pointedly on the wasted defensive effort: “Wasn’t good enough. The defense played so well, forced so many
turnovers and the offense didn’t help them out. We don’t feel good about it, and it starts with me.”
With the Chargers leading 13-10 after a strip-sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen gave them the ball near the Buffalo 23, Herbert targeted wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson undercut the throw for the pick, setting up Buffalo’s go-ahead touchdown drive.
“I have to make throws, can’t turn the ball over in the red zone. We got to score points in the red zone," Herbert said about the critical fourth-quarter interception.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh declined to single out Herbert, emphasizing a team result: “I’m not singling out anybody, negatively or positively. There was good play. There were good moments that created opportunities. Ultimately, the win or loss is the team.”
In three games in Mike McDaniel's offensive system, Herbert has thrown three passing touchdowns against four interceptions and hasn't topped 230 passing yards in any single contest. The unit has struggled to find any consistent rhythm, scoring just five total touchdowns while committing six turnovers.
"That's something that we have to figure out, and we're going to do our best to keep listening to our coaching and do everything we can to stick together and understand that it's a long season, and we gotta turn our stuff around. So whatever the reason is, we have to find a way to fix it," Herbert said.
With a difficult stretch ahead that includes trips to Seattle and Kansas City, McDaniel and Herbert need a quick fix or else the season will continue to crumble.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Justin Herbert owns Chargers’ collapse vs. Bills: 'It starts with me'
