EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints got off to quick starts this season with wins in their first two games. Both teams have cooled off as they meet on Sunday.
The Chargers (3-3) have dropped three of their past four, including a 17-15 loss at Arizona on Monday night , while the Saints (2-5) are looking to avoid their first six-game skid since 2005. The Bolts have been competitive in all six games in their first year under Jim Harbaugh, but have struggled in the second half. They've been outscored 55-34 after halftime.
Los Angeles also has not scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter in its past five games. “There’s a lot of things we can correct and clean up, but there’s a lot to look forward to as a whole,” said quarterback Justin Herbert, who passed for a season-high 349 yards in the loss to Arizona. If the Chargers are going to contend for a playoff spot, the next three weeks are crucial.
After facing New Orleans, Los Angeles has a road game against Cleveland (1-6) and then hosts Tennessee (1-5) on Nov. 10. The Saints scored 91 points in their first two games, but have 86 in the past five.
Derek Carr is likely — but not certain — to miss his third straight game on Sunday because of a Week 5 oblique injury. Coach Dennis Allen said he anticipates starting rookie QB Spencer Rattler, but stopped short of ruling out Carr, who last season started a game after not practicing the entire week. Carr is “in the process of going th.
