When the SoFi Stadium lights went darkish to start a hype video in the midst of the fourth quarter, a whole bunch of followers streamed towards the exits. The lights have been out on a 40-17 Chargers loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Chargers misplaced floor in a decent AFC wild-card race Sunday, giving up 27 unanswered factors within the second half to fall into seventh seed within the AFC playoff standings.
Coming into Week 15 as one among three 8-5 groups in playoff place, the Chargers (8-6) gave up a season-high in yards (506) and factors to fall behind the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos within the playoff standings.
After shedding consecutive video games for simply the second time this season, the Chargers should regroup rapidly for a crucial AFC West matchup towards the Broncos on Thursday at SoFi Stadium.
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Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 2 touchdowns and 195 yards, however had a go intercepted for the primary time since Week 2. His streak of passes tried with out an interception ended at 357, one shy of tying Tom Brady for the fourth-longest streak in NFL historical past.
However any private document was the least of Herbert’s issues when Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean hauled within the quarterback’s errant go.
The Buccaneers (8-6) turned Herbert’s miscue right into a 35-yard landing go from Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans 4 performs later to leap forward 30-17 with 1:36 remaining within the third quarter.
Tampa Bay erased a four-point halftime deficit, triggered partially by two second-quarter turnovers, by scoring 17 factors on three consecutive drives within the third quarter.
Learn extra: 🏈 Chargers-Bucs abstract
Evans had 9 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns whereas Mayfield shook off a second-half interception to complete with 288 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. He accomplished 22 of 27 go makes an attempt towards the protection that entered the sport permitting a league-best 15.9 factors per recreation.
With 117 yards speeding by working again Bucky Irving, the Buccaneers flexed their balanced offense in comparison with the Chargers’ working recreation that mustered simply 32 yards on the bottom.
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
