During the offseason, Los Angeles had prioritized an upgrade of their offensive line, with 1st-round draft pick Rashawn Slater joining free-agent signings Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler.

[12] Other offensive changes included the starting tight end spot: Hunter Henry left in free agency after five years with the Chargers, and was replaced by former Saint and 12-year veteran Jared Cook.

[83] 3rd-round wide receiver Josh Palmer was behind the established starters Keenan Allen and Mike Williams on the depth chart, but had the opportunity to start five games while they were injured, catching 33 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns.

[80] Notes The Chargers signed ten undrafted free agents following the draft,[89] including Amen Ogbongbemiga, who appeared in 15 games during the regular season and started two, finishing the year with 26 tackles and a sack.

In the event, they lost three of the four, with two overtime defeats, including the season finale at Las Vegas when, needing a tie to reach the playoffs, they were beaten 35–32 on a field goal as time expired in the extra period.

[102] Aided by the NFL's addition of a 17th regular-season game in 2021,[103] he broke club records for completions (443, from 672 attempts), touchdowns (38) and passing yards (5,014),[104] earning an appearance in his first Pro Bowl (where he was named offensive MVP).

The ball struck the ground near the goal line and was ignored by players from both teams as it rolled through the back of the end zone; however, it was ruled a fumble rather than an incompletion, resulting in a touchback and possession being turned over to Washington.

[124] Following a missed Washington field goal, the Chargers moved back into the red zone, but Herbert's pass was overthrown and intercepted by William Jackson III at the 4-yard line.

Kansas City's first three drives all crossed into Charger territory, but each was ended by a turnover - a diving interception by Samuel and two fumble recoveries, both forced by Tevaughn Campbell and recovered by Michael Davis.

The Chiefs responded with a field goal shortly before halftime, then dominated the first eleven minutes of the third quarter with a pair of touchdown drives, either side of a Charger three-and-out.

They advanced to a 4th and 4 at the Chief's 30 with 48 seconds to play, and again opted to go for it - they were pushed back 5 yards by a false start, but Jalen Guyton then drew a pass interference penalty to keep the drive going.

Carr's 51-yard pass early in the final quarter had the Raiders threatening again, but Christian Covington's third down sack forced a 51-yard field goal, which Daniel Carlson missed wide left.

The Browns were stopped on downs on their next possession when Odell Beckham dropped a pass at the Charger 15, but drove back into Los Angeles territory and scored via Kareem Hunt's 3-yard run on 4th and 1.

An Ekeler fumble set up a Cleveland field goal as time expired in the half, and the Browns were ahead 27–13 early in the third quarter after Nick Chubb shrugged off two would-be tacklers and completed a 52-yard touchdown run.

Late in the half, Ekeler couldn't hold onto a Herbert pass, with former Charger Adrian Phillips intercepting the deflected ball to set up another field goal, and a 14–13 halftime score.

After a further Folk field goal, rookie Josh Palmer scored his first career touchdown to pull Los Angeles within three, but another former Charger, Hunter Henry, then recovered an onside kick to ensure a Patriot victory.

Los Angeles responded, with Allen drawing a 28-yard pass interference penalty up the left sideline and Larry Rountree III scoring his first career touchdown, cutting the halftime deficit to 13–10.

[155] Pittsburgh pulled three points back early in the final quarter, then Ty Long's lone punt attempt of the game was blocked to set the Steelers up at the Charger 3.

On the first play of the final quarter, Ekeler's 12-yard catch on 3rd and 9 was negated when Linsley was ruled an ineligible receiver downfield; on 3rd and 14, Herbert's end zone pass was intercepted by Patrick Surtain II.

After three plays netted no yards, the Chargers went for the touchdown on fourth down – Herbert connected with Allen in the front of the end zone, putting Los Angeles ahead to stay.

Christian Covington then knocked the ball from Mixon's grasp - it ran into the path of Campbell, who recovered and had a clear run to the end zone for the Chargers' lone defensive touchdown of the season.

However, a pre-snap false start penalty on Chargers' guard Matt Feiler negated the play, enabling Hopkins to kick a field goal and increase the lead to ten points.

A Herbert pass was tipped and intercepted on the next drive, and Kansas City drove to a 3rd and 7 the Los Angeles 11, before Mahomes threw incomplete under pressure from Nwosu, and Butker added three points with a field goal.

The next three plays netted no yardage, and Adderley caused enough disruption to a 4th-down Philly Special pass that Lock, after receiving the ball, was brought down by Bosa and Chris Harris a yard from the goal line.

Los Angeles went three-and-out, but Kemon Hall then recovered a muffed punt, Herbert found Ekeler to convert a 4th down, and Allen scored with only 14 seconds left in the half.

Two plays later, Harris was penalised 41 yards for pass interference in the end zone - the Chargers argued unsuccessfully that the ball was uncatchable - and Las Vegas scored from the 1 to lead 17–14 at the break.

Las Vegas continued to extend the lead on their next two possessions, following a long touchdown drive with an interception by former Charger Casey Hayward that set up a field goal midway through the final quarter.

Williams then caught a Herbert pass on his knees at the 13, and leaned over the first down marker just before he was touched by a defender; he was initially ruled short, but Staley challenged the call and had it overturned by replay review.

Palmer got in front of the Raiders coverage in the middle of the end zone and caught Herbert's pass for a touchdown; Ekeler's two-point conversion catch pulled the Chargers within seven points, with four and a half minutes remaining.

Josh Jacobs had consecutive carries of 28 and 18 yards to move the ball inside the Chargers' 30, but Carr eventually threw incomplete on 3rd and 3, and Daniel Carlson made a 40-yard field goal.