The Sports Xchange

SAN DIEGO — After Sunday’s 27-20 loss at Green Bay, the San Diego Chargers’ record for the week included two defeats in six days.

While hardly something to brag about, neither was it cause for shame as both losses were to teams with a combined record of 10-2 and both games were dramatically close.

Last Monday night’s prime-time show was decided on a one-yard touchdown run by Le’Veon Bell as time ran out, giving the Steelers a 24-20 decision.

Sunday’s game at Green Bay showcased one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Wait, make that two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Although Green Bay’s heralded Aaron Rodgers got the win, he and the Packers had to overcome a record breaking passing show by San Diego’s Philip Rivers, who reset the franchise best single-game air raid at 503 yards, with no interceptions.

But it was the one pass he didn’t complete, on a fourth-and-goal play from the 3-yard line, which will linger longest when Rivers remembers this game. The ball was headed toward versatile Danny Woodhead in the right side of the end zone, but was barely tipped by Packers defensive back Damarious Randall, effectively ending the game with 15 seconds to go.

So, after narrowly missing chances against those two unbeaten teams, the Chargers, now 2-4, get back to AFC West play Sunday against their longest historical rival, the Oakland Raiders.

Never mind that smooth-talking Carmen Policy, former executive with the San Francisco 49ers, has these two AFC West enemies picking out furniture in a yet-to-be built stadium in Los Angeles. The Raiders-Chargers games are always an adventure, and this game may be even better than recent matchups as the Raiders are on the ascent at 2-3.

Maybe that is why head coach Mike McCoy found it easy to put the bad week behind him and look forward to a division rival that at least is not undefeated, just improving.

“I’m really excited to get into division play in front of our fans and getting back on track,” he said of Sunday’s game with the visiting Raiders.

While these last two games proved the Chargers are able to give any team a rough time, they are now four games behind the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos with just 10 games remaining.

But the Chargers’ AFC West schedule only begins Sunday against the Raiders — the first of six divisional games — so they will have a lot to say about where they finish in this group.

In the loss to the Packers, there were plenty rays of sunshine. Paramount was Rivers throwing for that franchise-record 503 yards and two touchdowns.

“There are a lot of positives,” McCoy said. “There’s a lot of fight in our football team. I know what our record is. But our team has a ton of fight in them because of the leadership we have.”

McCoy rattled off the names of tenured players. That’s a good thing and maybe not-so-good.

While there are few veterans with the stripes to prove their service, the bulk of the squad is young and experiencing adversity as a team for the first time. How they react will go a long way in determining if the Chargers’ season is almost over before it almost got started.

“You look at yourself first, coaches included,” McCoy said. “And say, ‘how can I push myself more to get over this hump?’”

McCoy is convinced the Chargers aren’t that far off.

“We can be pretty good,” he said. “But we got to be more consistent as a group. That is my message to the football team.”

The game film proved McCoy’s sermon — on both sides.

“There are a lot of good things on tape when you watch it,” he said of the loss in Green Bay. “And there are plenty of things we have to clean up, just like every week.”

But the Chargers will long remember this week, which included a pair of heartbreaking losses that both left a mark.

REPORT CARD VS. PACKERS

–PASSING OFFENSE: A-plus. Philip Rivers set franchise records with attempts, completions and yards. And he did it all without an interception or a running game, which makes his performance even more special. Keenan Allen continues to have a Pro-Bowl season, with 14 receptions for 157 yards. Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd each had at least 90 yards. Better yet, the makeshift offensive line allowed three sacks, but when Rivers throws it 65 times, there’s bound for an occasional leak. It was just a sensational day from Rivers.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: F. Melvin Gordon continues to prove he was great in college — in the NFL, not so much. He fumbled two more times (lost one) and managed but 29 yards on seven carries. He was benched after his second fumble, his fourth of the year. True, the offensive line was better in protecting Rivers than opening running lanes. The Chargers had but 60 yards and of their 32 first downs, just four were from rushing.

–PASS DEFENSE: C. Hold Aaron Rodgers under 260 yards and three touchdown passes and you like your chances. The Chargers did that and added four sacks. But Brandon Flowers was again targeted in critical situations and the outcome usually isn’t good. Jerry Attaochu (two sacks) is playing his best ball ever. Tackling after receptions remains an issue.

–RUN DEFENSE: F. And that’s with Denzel Perryman giving it a boost. Truth is nearly an 8-yard average was churned out by the Packers as the front seven continues to be the soft underbelly of the unit. Perryman forced a fumble and had eight tackles but he didn’t have much help. The Packers had 133 rushing yards on just 17 carries, but was skewed by a 65-yard touchdown run by james Starks. If time of possession would have been closer, the Chargers’ run defense was in for a long afternoon.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: D. Still nothing from the return game as Jacoby Jones has yet to show much. Shoddy blocking on a punt got Mike Scifres injured. Coverage allowed kickoff returns of 30 and 29 yards. Josh Lambo hit two field goals from 36 and 32 yards.

–COACHING: A. The plan was to hog the ball and keep it in your star’s hands and it worked — almost. Philip Rivers was the best player on the field on this day, which is saying a lot when the game is in Green Bay. Head coach Mike McCoy’s staff had a great plan, although it’s still hard digesting not one, but two, inside handoffs to Danny Woodhead from the Green Bay 4-yard line. The defense gave up an alarming number of chunk plays and that was with Aaron Rodgers having the ball just 22 minutes. The run defense continues to get worked, but that appears to be more personnel than scheme. Coaches kept the Chargers believing they had a chance until the last 15 seconds.