The Washington Football Team came up short in their quest for a Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Instead, the Chargers edged Washington 20-16.
The Chargers offense chewed off the final 6:43 of the game, preserving the win with a third down-and-four first down conversion from quarterback Justin Herbert to wide receiver Keenan Allen with 1:44 remaining.
Any real chance of holding off defeat was in stopping the Chargers and forcing a field goal.
Allen picked up the game-sealing nine yards. He slipped past Washington cornerback William Jackson III for the catch. Washington burned their final timeout and Herbert knelt out the final seconds.
Following the game, Allen told CBS broadcast team, he warned Washington’s star defensive end Chase Young before the play what was expected to happen.
“I told Chase Young at the snap, if they run man coverage, they were going home,” Allen said. “They were in man coverage. Bye-bye.”
The Chargers converted 14-of-19 third-down attempts. It was tied for the most allowed by Washington since the 1994 season. The Chargers converted four on the game’s final drive, which went for 15 plays and 72 yards to run the clock out.
Washington’s defense was unable to force the Chargers offense off the field. As a result, they start the season with a bitter taste in their mouths and an 0-1 record.
