CHARGERS FALL TO 0-4 AS HERBERT STRUGGLES CONTINUE

The Los Angeles Chargers lost 30-23 to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, leaving them winless after four games of the season, according to coverage of the match. Quarterback Justin Herbert had his first pass of the game intercepted and threw a second interception before half-time, before suffering a late strip sack. Herbert, who signed a five-year, $262.5 million contract with the Chargers in July 2023, has been managed under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Some pundits had tipped the Chargers as contenders to win the AFC West division before the season began. Separate reporting on an earlier Chargers defeat, a 24-16 loss, noted that Buffalo Bills pass rusher Bradley Chubb was fined $17,911 by the NFL for a late hit on Herbert in the first quarter, with no Chargers players fined in that game.

Herbert's season figures have drawn scrutiny, with his completion percentage reported at a career-low 59.1% for the opening three games and four interceptions thrown, described as a career high for him at that stage of a season. According to statistics attributed to a reporter at The Athletic, Herbert ranked 32nd in the league for expected points added on deep throws of 20-plus yards and 25th in quick-throw completion percentage, down from 10th and seventh respectively the previous season. The Chargers brought in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator to work on Herbert's footwork during the offseason, according to reports.

NFL analyst Emmanuel Acho criticised Herbert's decision-making, saying "it's like he just drops back, closes his eyes, and hopes for the best," while fellow analyst Marcus Whitman said he could not be "any further out" on the quarterback. McDaniel said of the difficulties facing a franchise quarterback and a play caller after successive losses that "it can be a lonely world." The Chargers' next fixture was not specified in the available reporting.