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The Athletic's Daniel Popper did a great job of detailing the Chargers' collapse against the Broncos and the questions that have to be asked about Anthony Lynn's role in their ongoing meltdowns. Los Angeles' defense gave up three plays of 40-plus yards in the second half as the Chargers blew a 24-3 lead. Chargers players seemed more interested in staring at each other and assigning blame as the big plays unfolded rather than trying to limit the damage. The Chargers are 3-14 in one-score games over the past two seasons.

They find new ways to lose games and at some point that has to change. They can't win the close ones.

Can't pin their remarkable inconsistency on rookie QB Justin Herbert, the only player in Super Bowl era to pass for 250+ yards in each of his first six starts.

Reason for optimism: QB Justin Herbert

Herbert is the only reason for optimism even though he threw two picks versus Denver. He still passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns, and he has an arm that made him the No. 6 overall pick. He has now thrown for 1,820 yards and 15 touchdowns, with the latter tying Deshaun Watson for the most for a rookie over his first six starts. -- Shelley Smith

You can change the city, switch the uniforms and overhaul the roster, but one indisputable truth shall remain: Chargers gonna Charger. On Sunday, the Bolts blew a 24-3 second-half lead in an excruciating 31-30 last-second loss to the Broncos. Afterward, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn dismissed the notion of making significant roster changes in an effort to start closing out games his team should win. "This is what we have, and we got to figure this s--- out right now." Lynn revealed himself to be an enormously likable personality and genuine leader of men during his star turn on Hard Knocks this summer, but Los Angeles is 3-14 (.176) in games decided by eight or fewer points since last season. The Chargers' inability to close is a reflection of their coaching.