Harbaugh Says Chargers Are 'In This Fight Together'

Jim Harbaugh is not running from 0-5. The Los Angeles Chargers coach said Monday that he and the team's ownership are "in this fight together" as the franchise sits winless through five games for the first time since 2003, per ESPN.

Asked whether he feels any heat from above, Harbaugh named the whole family. "John Spanos, Dean Spanos, Susie Spanos, the whole Spanos family. It's shoulder to shoulder where we're in this fight together," he said. He added that he is "hell bent" on turning it around.

An apology for fourth-and-1

Sunday's 23-17 home loss to the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium still had Harbaugh stewing a day later. The Chargers led 17-10 with 10:33 left and faced fourth-and-1 at their own 41. Harbaugh kept the offense out there, and Justin Herbert got stuffed on a sneak, per Chargers.com. Denver scored five plays later to tie it.

"I still feel like those two fourth-down decisions, especially the one fourth-down decision, did not put our team in the best chance to win that game," Harbaugh said Monday, per ESPN. "I regret that. I'm even sorry about that. I don't say I'm sorry unless I think I'm wrong about something and I sincerely think I was."

After the tie, Herbert lost a fumble and then threw an interception on the next two possessions, and the Broncos turned both into field goals. That wasted a strong day from the defense, which held Denver to 224 yards and 1-of-12 on third down, per Chargers.com.

Uncharted territory for Harbaugh

Dating back to last season, the Chargers have now lost eight straight. ESPN Research says that is the longest losing streak of Harbaugh's head-coaching career, college or pro. This is a team that came in off back-to-back 11-6 seasons.

Harbaugh has been here as a player, though. In his final season he was on the then-San Diego Chargers team that started 0-5 and finished 1-15. His message to the locker room now is simple. "Keep fighting. Keep being a leader. Keep being a competitor. Keep being the believer that you've been and even more," he said.

He also had Herbert's back. "The way [Herbert] competes, it's like few others I've ever seen," Harbaugh said.

The injury list keeps growing

The bodies are a big part of this. Four rookies started on the offensive line Sunday, per ESPN. Tackle Joe Alt is still going through testing on his neck, and guard Kayode Awosika is rehabbing a fibula injury. Ladd McConkey dressed as an emergency option but did not play, and Tre' Harris is now week to week with a hamstring injury. Quentin Johnston (chest) and Brenen Thompson (quad) are banged up too.

Next up is a trip to Kansas City to face the undefeated Chiefs, with a Week 7 bye waiting after that. Harbaugh says the Spanos family is with him. Now Bolts fans need to see a win at Arrowhead before 0-6 becomes the real story.