Chargers face 37-possession drought before fourth-quarter touchdown

The Los Angeles Chargers have lost eight consecutive games to start the 2026 season, a record that places them at 0-8 on the books. The team suffered a 44-22 defeat to the Houston Texans on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. This marks the longest losing streak for the franchise in recent memory, a reality that veteran tight end Charlie Kolar described as painful.

Kolar, in his first season with the Chargers, noted that his previous tenure with the Baltimore Ravens saw no more than four consecutive losses. Those earlier struggles occurred while quarterback Lamar Jackson was sidelined with an injury. Kolar stated that the current situation feels different because the team was expected to perform at a higher level. He told reporters in the locker room that the losing streak hurts the soul.

During his postgame comments, Kolar learned a specific statistic that highlighted the offensive struggle. Someone informed him that the Chargers had gone 37 consecutive possessions without scoring a touchdown. This drought lasted nearly a month, ending only when quarterback Justin Herbert threw a 58-yard pass to wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the fourth quarter. At that moment, the Chargers trailed 38-15. Kolar expressed surprise at the number, saying he wished he had not been told the figure.

The last touchdown before the Johnston score came from running back Kimani Vidal. Vidal ran for 42 yards in the third quarter of the Oct. 11 loss to the Denver Broncos. Kolar said the team could not score enough points to stay competitive. He placed much of the blame on the offense, including himself, while acknowledging that the defense had played well throughout the year. He described the season as the most frustrating of his career.

Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel changed his position during the game to help adjust the offense. He moved from the sideline to the coach's booth to call plays, a shift intended to provide a different perspective on the 22 players on the field. Quarterback Justin Herbert said he thought McDaniel called a great game and noted that there were no issues with the callouts. The change did not alter the final result.

The team also held a halftime ceremony to induct kicker John Carney and wide receiver Anthony Miller into the Chargers Hall of Fame. Left guard Kayode Awosika remained inactive due to a fibula injury sustained in Week 2. Linebacker Denzel Perryman and tight end David Njoku stayed on the designated to return list from injured reserve due to pectoral and fibula issues, respectively.

Kolar finished his remarks by emphasizing the need for individual focus. He said every player must be intensely focused on their own performance to improve. He noted that the team is not playing well right now and must find a way to get better to stay in the competition.