The Chargers did it again. For the fourth time this season, they lost. And for the fourth time, they blew a second-half lead.
Against the Raiders on Sunday, the Chargers held a 24-16 lead in the third quarter. Due to some awful defense and another ill-timed fumble by Melvin Gordon, the Chargers gave up that lead and entered the fourth quarter trailing by three points.
At the time, that didn't necessarily feel like a bad thing. After all, the Chargers had blown two huge fourth quarter leads earlier this season. This time, the Chargers couldn't choke away another game in the final frame.
They still found a way to blow another game in the final minutes. This time, they pulled a Tony Romo by botching a hold on a chip shot field goal that would've tied the game with just over two minutes remaining.
.@Chargers line up to tie the game with a FG...
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
But they fumble the snap! @Raiders take over. #SDvsOAKhttps://t.co/IBGX4v5JTq
That's a perfect snap and a not so perfect hold by Drew Kaser. So, clearly, the blame should be directed toward him.
It should also be directed toward Chargers coach Mike McCoy. Facing a fourth-and-inches with two minutes remaining in a game that the Chargers' defense couldn't consistently force stops, McCoy went for a game-tying field goal instead of trying to pick up a few inches on the ground and win the game with a touchdown. Even if the Chargers had kicked that field goal, they were still going to have to stop a Raiders offense that had its way with them -- and the Raiders would've needed just a field goal.
McCoy is reportedly coaching for his job. He's not off to a great start.