The Chargers are 3-2 after a 27-10 home loss to Washington on Sunday.
Here are five takeaways from Week 5.
1. Bolts drop 2nd straight game
The Chargers are searching for answers after their second straight loss.
Because it's not just that the Bolts lost Sunday afternoon. It's how they lost that had players shaking their heads in the postgame locker room.
"It's a stomach ache, belly ache, hangover-type loss," Keenan Allen said. "No matter what you say, you can't get rid of the pain and the hurt and how you're feeling."
Derwin James, Jr. added: "Very frustrating. I feel like we had control of the game but didn't make the plays that we needed to make to win the game."
A week ago, the Chargers played a sloppy game on the East Coast but nearly made up for it in a close loss.
There was no such feeling this time around as the Bolts squandered an early 10-point lead and allowed the Commanders to rattle off 27 unanswered points.
Offensively, the Chargers scored 10 points on their first two possessions but were shut out on their final seven series, a sequence that included a pair of turnovers.
Defensively, the Bolts allowed 163 rushing yards, their highest total of the season and also gave up a season-high 22 first downs.
And special teams played a part, too, as miscues in that phase contributed to the double-digit loss.
Going forward, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said the focus will be on cleaner football from every player on the roster.
Harbaugh also noted that he thinks the sloppy play from the past two weeks is fixable.
"I do [think it's fixable]," Harbaugh said. "Concentration, focus in our assignment, alignment, our technique.
"All the things that you do as a good football team, and things we have done, that are in our DNA, in our character," Harbaugh added. "When things are happening outside the teams character, more focus in those areas."
The Chargers are on the road in Week 6 against the 1-4 Dolphins, but all the focus will be on the Bolts themselves this week at practice.
"Details. We got to be detailed," Daiyan Henley said. "The only thing that matters right now is getting back in the win column.
"We want to be a team that's competing in February, we got to talk about that and be about that right now," Henley added. "Just getting back in the win column is all it's about and being detailed."
Justin Herbert added: "It's on us to focus in and dial in."
2. Hurt by penalties
Here's a stat to some up how odd the Chargers have played of late.
Through the first 21 games of the Harbaugh Era (including the playoffs), the Chargers had just one game with eight or more penalties.
But the Bolts have gone over that mark in each of the past two games.
Sunday's final tally was 10 penalties for 85 yards, a performance that comes on the heels of a 14-penalty outing for 107 yards against the Giants.
Add it up and that is 24 total penalties for 192 total yards in the past two losses.
"We can't beat ourselves," Allen said. "When you beat yourselves, it's the worst way."
James added: "We don't make no excuses of why we aren't clean. It's our jobs to get it fixed. We're the players, we're out there. We need to get it fixed."
Similar to a week ago, the Chargers were whistled early as Benjamin St-Juste was called for a illegal formation penalty on the opening kickoff.
But the culprits were all over the field in each phase, too.
Perhaps the most glaring sequence on offense came early in the third quarter.
Down 17-10, the offense was looking to get in gear and tie the game.
But Herbert was sacked on first down to bring up second-and-19 before the Chargers were hampered by numerous penalties.
Herbert completed a 23-yard pass on second down that was called back for holding on Trey Pipkins III.
Herbert then hit a 31-yard pass on second-and-28, but Pipkins was lined up in the backfield and was called for illegal formation.
Two explosive pass plays, both called back to stunt the chance to build momentum.
Ladd McConkey said any offensive penalty is usually a "drive killer" but noted everyone on that side of the ball needed to be better Sunday.
James echoed that all phases were responsible for the loss.
"Everything is contagious. Momentum is contagious, whether you're playing good or playing bad," James said. "You get one flag, it was contagious today. Every phase had a flag. We just need to clean that up and play more disciplined football."
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium!
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
C Bradley Bozeman (75), G Zion Johnson (77) and OL Austin Deculus (74)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and T Trey Pipkins III (79)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and T Trey Pipkins III (79)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
CB Tarheeb Still (29) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Caleb Murphy (50)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and DB Elijah Molden (2)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DB Ja'Sir Taylor (36)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DB Ja'Sir Taylor (36)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
C Bradley Bozeman (75) and G Zion Johnson (77)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
LB Marlowe Wax (58) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Troy Dye (43)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
CB Tarheeb Still (29) and DB Elijah Molden (2)
OLB Caleb Murphy (50) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
DL Teair Tart (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Alohi Gilman (32)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and S Alohi Gilman (32)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and S Alohi Gilman (32)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and S Alohi Gilman (32)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
S Alohi Gilman (32) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
S Alohi Gilman (32) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
OLB Caleb Murphy (50)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
S Alohi Gilman (32)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
LB Troy Dye (43)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Clelin Ferrell (57) and DL Teair Tart (90)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Cam Hart (20), S Derwin James Jr. (3), DB Elijah Molden (2), DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Bud Dupree (48)
CB Benjamin St-Juste (24)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
OLB Clelin Ferrell (57)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90)
3. A game-changing call
Perhaps the biggest game-changing sequence came late in the second quarter.
With under a minute to play, the Chargers led 10-3 and looked as if they were going to get the ball back with good field position. The Commanders, after all, were punting from their own 2-yard line.
McConkey, filling in at punt returner for an injured Derius Davis, then dazzled with an electrifying 57-yard punt return for a score that would have put the Chargers up by two possessions.
"As soon as I crossed the end zone, I saw the flag. I didn't know what it was," McConkey said. "But you've got to play the play out. That's just part of it."
He added: "I was pumped, excited about it. But at the end of the day, it happens. Penalties happen, got to overcome them."
The flag ended up being on Chargers rookie linebacker Marlowe Wax, who was called for roughing the kicker.
Washington, with a fresh set of downs, hit a 50-yard pass on the ensuing play and later kicked a game-tying field goal just before halftime.
The Bolts couldn't slow the momentum from there as Commanders outscored the Chargers 17-0 in the second half.
"Very frustrating. We ran a kick back, put points on the board. It just changes the game," James said. "We can't do that, we can't win like that in this league. It's too close."
4. More injuries pile up
The Chargers also continue to get hit by the injury bug.
With a handful of players — including Joe Alt and Khalil Mack — missing Sunday's game, the Bolts also had to make do without a handful of others against the Commanders.
Most notably, running back Omarion Hampton suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and did not return to the game.
Plus, an offensive line that was already without Alt had to shuffle through more combinations on Sunday.
The Chargers rolled out a starting unit of, from left to right, Austin Deculus, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton and Pipkins.
But Pipkins left the game with a knee injury in the first half, leading Jamaree Salyer to come in at right tackle.
Becton, however, then left the game with a hand injury as Foster Sarell came in at right guard.
Both Pipkins and Becton later returned to the game for a bit before Becton exited again. Salyer then came in at right guard.
And when Becton later returned, it was Pipkins who then went to the sideline as Salyer stepped in at right tackle.
All in all, the Chargers used four different O-line configurations in Week 5.
"It's the nature of the position," Pipkins said. "Everybody's got to be ready at their positions, that's kind of what makes O-Line special.
"I think everybody who went in there fought their [butt] off and did everything they can," Pipkins added. "As long as we have that and everyone is fighting their [butt] off doing everything they can, that's everything we needed."
Herbert said postgame he hoped the shuffling was beneficial in the long run.
"You'd love to have the same group of guys out there that go out and communicate as one. I think they've done such a great job of shuffling around," Herbert said. "Whether Foster is playing right guard or right tackle, he's played all over the place. Jamaree has played left, right.
"At the end of the day, I think it's going to help us because we knew adversity was going to happen," Herbert added. "Injuries are a part of the game unfortunately and I think having the group of guys that are able to step up for one another, fight for each other, I think it will help us in the long run."
Check out the top photos of the Bolts warming up for their Week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium!
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Troy Dye (43)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S RJ Mickens (27)
G Zion Johnson (77)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
OL Jamaree Salyer (68)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
LS Rick Lovato (41)
Tom Brady and Linebackers Coach Navorro Bowman
Tom Brady, T Joe Alt (76) and Assistant Offensive Line Coach Nick Hardwick
Tom Brady, T Joe Alt (76) and Assistant Offensive Line Coach Nick Hardwick
OLB Clelin Ferrell (57)
P JK Scott (16)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Caleb Murphy (50)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
P JK Scott (16)
P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
LS Rick Lovato (41)
P JK Scott (16) and K Cameron Dicker (11)
RB Hassan Haskins (28)
WR Ladd McConkey (15), RB Kimani Vidal (30), RB Omarion Hampton (8) and RB Hassan Haskins (28)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
C Andre James (78) and C Bradley Bozeman (75)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and QB Trey Lance (5)
TE Tucker Fisk (42), DL Scott Matlock (44) and TE Tyler Conklin (83)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Scott Matlock (44) and TE Tucker Fisk (42)
QB Trey Lance (5)
S Tony Jefferson (23), DB Elijah Molden (2), CB Tarheeb Still (29), S Alohi Gilman (32), CB Benjamin St-Juste (24) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Tarheeb Still (29), S Tony Jefferson (23), DB Elijah Molden (2), DB Ja'Sir Taylor (36), CB Donte Jackson (26) and S Kendall Williamson (40)
DB Elijah Molden (2), CB Donte Jackson (26), CB Tarheeb Still (29), DB Ja'Sir Taylor (36), CB Benjamin St-Juste (24), S Kendall Williamson (40), S Derwin James Jr. (3), CB Cam Hart (20) and S Alohi Gilman (32)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald and RB Kimani Vidal (30)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99) and DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
DL Teair Tart (90), G Zion Johnson (77) and OL Jamaree Salyer (68)
Tom Brady and Chargers Legend Antonio Gates
RB Kimani Vidal (30)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
DL Teair Tart (90), G Zion Johnson (77) and OL Jamaree Salyer (68)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OL Austin Deculus (74) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Bud Dupree (48)
G Mekhi Becton (73)
G Mekhi Becton (73)
G Mekhi Becton (73)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84), WR Quentin Johnston (1), WR Ladd McConkey (15), RB Hassan Haskins (28), RB Kimani Vidal (30), RB Omarion Hampton (8) and DL Scott Matlock (44)
WR Quentin Johnston (1), WR Ladd McConkey (15), RB Hassan Haskins (28) and RB Kimani Vidal (30)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
OL Foster Sarell (67)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
G Zion Johnson (77), OL Jamaree Salyer (68) and C Andre James (78)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Tre' Harris (9)
G Mekhi Becton (73)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
C Bradley Bozeman (75)
C Bradley Bozeman (75)
C Bradley Bozeman (75) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
Chargers Legend Antonio Gates, S Derwin James Jr. (3) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
Chargers Legend Antonio Gates, S Derwin James Jr. (3) and WR Keenan Allen (13)
Chargers Legend Antonio Gates and WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13) and Chargers Legend Antonio Gates
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
Chargers Legend LaDainian Tomlinson
Chargers Legend LaDainian Tomlinson
Chargers Legend LaDainian Tomlinson
OL Foster Sarell (67) and C Andre James (78)
CB Benjamin St-Juste (24)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Teair Tart (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Troy Dye (43)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
5. Another bad luck INT
Herbert threw just three interceptions last season and already has four so far in 2025.
But a closer look shows the Chargers quarterback is being hit by a bit of bad luck in that department right now.
Herbert threw one interception Sunday and it came at a time when the Chargers were inches away from being right back in the game.
Down 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter, Herbert and the offense faced first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Herbert's eventual third-down pass from the 4-yard line was batted in the air by a Commanders defensive lineman and picked off at the 1-yard line.
"Just bad luck. It's one of those plays where Keenan was open, I felt like I had it in good timing, good rhythm and the guy made a good play," Herbert said. "He got his hand up and down there in the red zone the windows are so tight that you can't have any room for error like that.
"The ball got tipped, got off line and he made a good play. It's one of those things that you hate doing as a quarterback and you wish maybe I jumped and raised my arm a bit," Herbert added. "Just watch it and hopefully you avoid it next time."
Of Herbert's four interceptions so far this season, three have come off deflections at the line of scrimmage.
Herbert, who threw for 116 yards and a touchdown to McConkey, provided the longest play of the day for the Bolts offense when he scampered for 41 yards in the Chargers opening possession.
