Chargers lose after replay determines Melvin Gordon lost fumble at goal line
The Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Tennessee Titans 23-20 on Sunday in truly maddening fashion on Sunday.
The Chargers got the ball at the 49 with 2:35 left after the Titans were stopped on 4th and 1 on a QB sneak attempt. They got it down to the 16, and then Philip Rivers threw a pass to Austin Ekeler, who busted through the middle and went into the end zone for what was ruled to be a touchdown. However, a review determined Ekeler was down before scoring, giving the Chargers the ball at the 1.
The highest receiving grade regardless of position belongs to Austin Ekeler. For good reason.
— PFF (@PFF) October 20, 2019
You figure at that point that the Chargers had the game, but they somehow blew it.
First, the Chargers moved themselves back five yards with a false start. Then they moved back to the 1 after a defensive pass interference call. Then for the second time on the possession, they had a touchdown ruling on the field overturned, giving them a 2nd-and-goal at the 1 with 19 seconds left. That’s when Melvin Gordon got the ball for a second consecutive play and got burned on a replay review. He was initially ruled to be down short of the goal by contact, but a review determined he had lost a fumble, giving Tennessee the ball on a touchback.
#Chargers just had the most Chargers finish over.
Had the win so close… but Melvin Gordon fumbles. pic.twitter.com/CLR8c6mg4K
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 20, 2019
The reaction from Philip Rivers and Gordon said it all.
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) October 20, 2019
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2019
What an awful way to lose. The Chargers are now 2-5 after the 23-20 loss.