Bears vs. Chargers: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for San Diego

The San Diego Chargers will have to sit on a five-game losing streak during their bye week after dropping a 22-19 decision to the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Zach Miller caught the game-winning touchdown for Chicago (3-5) with 3:19 left to play, making a miraculous one-handed grab courtesy of a 25-yard rocket pass from Jay Cutler. San Diego (2-7) had hoped to get kicker Josh Lambo in a position to tie the game with a late field goal but failed to move past the Bears' 49-yard line as Philip Rivers was sacked twice before turning it over on downs.

San Diego's opening drive was converted for a touchdown via Rivers' 14-yard connection to Danny Woodhead, and Jason Verrett returned an interception 68 yards for a score to put the Chargers ahead by 13 in the second quarter (Lambo missed the PAT). Chicago's first scoring play of the night came in the form of a one-yard toss to Martellus Bennett from Cutler as he became the Bears' franchise leader for touchdown passes with 138, but the Bolts padded their lead just before the half with a 31-yard field goal by Lambo to make it 16-7 at the break.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter before a lengthy drive by the Bears capped off by Jeremy Langford's one-yard touchdown plunge cut the deficit to 16-14 in the opening minutes of the final stanza. The Chargers were only able to answer with another field goal from Lambo despite running seven plays in the red zone, and Cutler drove Chicago 80 yards in 10 plays for the go-ahead score.

It's yet another tough loss for the Chargers, but what else is new? Here's this week's collection of grades, notes and quotes. 

Position Grades for Chargers

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Position	Grades
QB	B+
RB	C-
WR	F
TE	B
OL	C-
DL	D
LB	C
DB	D+
Special Teams	D-
Coaching	D

Quarterback

Philip Rivers finished 26-of-42 with 280 yards passing and one touchdown, snapping his streak of consecutive 300-yard passing games at five. More often than not, he was able to pick apart the Bears secondary, but it got difficult to make plays down the stretch after losing Malcom Floyd to injury and with Antonio Gates hobbled.

Running Back

Danny Woodhead, aside from totaling 111 yards from scrimmage and catching a touchdown pass, had two uncommon drops against no coverage. It was simply a lack of concentration on his part. Melvin Gordon, despite earning a team-high 11 carries, rushed for only 31 yards (Woodhead had 33 yards on six carries). Donald Brown, making his first on-field appearance for the Chargers, carried the ball twice for 13 yards.

Wide Receiver

Floyd left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return, leaving the Chargers thin at receiver with only Dontrelle Inman and Javontee Herndon active alongside normal starter Stevie Johnson. The lack of experience showed in the young wideouts as Inman fumbled after a catch in the second quarter, and Herndon drew an offensive pass interference penalty. But Johnson made the worst mistake of all, picking up a delay of game penalty for spiking the ball after a first-down catch, which moved the Chargers back five yards on a key drive that needed to go for seven points but only resulted in three.

Tight End

Antonio Gates had six catches for 69 yards, including a long one of 40 yards. Still dealing with the effects of a sprained knee, Gates struggled to shake off defenders at times and had trouble running after the catch, but it was a gutsy effort by him, nonetheless.

Offensive Line

Protection up front was good all night long until the very last drive by San Diego. Tackle Joe Barksdale, who's been the Chargers' best pass-blocker, was beaten twice by Lamarr Houston for a pair of sacks, denying the offense of a potential game-tying drive. Also, guard D.J. Fluker was the man responsible for being too upfield on the nullified touchdown catch by Gates. In his defense, Rivers was scrambling and heading to the corner of the end zone as if he might try to score himself, so it's a tough call to head upfield for a block in that scenario or hang back and see if the result is a last-second pass.

Defensive Line

Ryan Carrethers made a couple of plays in the backfield when Chicago ran the ball, but there wasn't much else to highlight. The defensive line struggled without Corey Liuget, who sat out due to injury, and the Bears offensive line got the bigger push up front.

Linebacker

San Diego's edge-rushers got good pressure on Jay Cutler in the first half, as Melvin Ingram was able to record a strip-sack in the opening quarter, but that pressure seemed to fade toward the end of the game when Cutler was hitting his receivers for big chunks of yardage. At inside linebacker, Kavell Conner let Jeremy Langford get by him in coverage for a 31-yard catch but played considerably well elsewhere, breaking up a pass and tackling a pass-catcher in the backfield.

Defensive Back

Jason Verrett's strong play in the first quarter, which included a pick-six, was marred by seeing him gingerly head to the sideline with a groin injury and not return. Once Verrett went out, Cutler proceeded to pick on Steve Williams with Alshon Jeffery, who finished with 10 catches for 151 yards. Rookie Craig Mager was also tested by Cutler when he was forced to come in for an ailing Patrick Robinson, who exited in the second quarter with a neck injury and did not return. Cutler threw for 345 yards in all and was able to have his way with San Diego's secondary once it was clear Verrett wasn't coming back in.

Special Teams

A bad snap might have been to blame for Josh Lambo's missed PAT in the second quarter, but he was perfect on field-goal tries with two made. Mike Scifres continues to struggle at his craft, hitting punts of 33 and 35 yards. As Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, the Chargers worked out four punters this past week, which might be a sign they are considering a change at one of the most tenured spots on the roster. San Diego parted ways with kicker Nick Novak in the offseason, opting for the younger Lambo, and the same could happen at the punter position.

Coaching

A fifth straight loss does not look good for head coach Mike McCoy nor the franchise under the lights of primetime, and it can only be assumed that his hot seat will grow warmer heading into the bye week. 

Malcom Floyd Injury Leaves San Diego Thin at Receiver

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Floyd, a 10-year veteran with the Chargers, has said before this would be his last season in the NFL, which makes Monday night's injury all the more difficult to swallow. And if he's not able to return this season, the Bolts would be left extremely thin at receiver, where just last week Keenan Allen was placed on injured reserve with a lacerated kidney.

As of now, Stevie Johnson would be in line to take over the top spot with Dontrelle Inman and Javontee Herndon following behind him. And with Floyd suffering an injury, the Chargers might be forced to promote another receiver from the practice squad. Perhaps they will look at Tyrell Williams, who flashed in the preseason.

Secondary Falls Apart Without Jason Verrett

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Verrett's outstanding first quarter began with two well-covered routes against talented Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery. And he followed with an eye-opening interception return for a touchdown that had even Philip Rivers high-stepping down the sideline. But the joy of seeing Verrett play to his potential would be short-lived as the second-year corner came out of the game after aggravating a previous groin injury.

Verrett's pro career, although destined for great things, has been spoiled by injuries. His first year in 2014 was cut short by a torn shoulder, and earlier this season he dealt with a foot issue. Now, when things start to go his way, yet another injury looks to block his path to success. And when Verrett exited the game, San Diego's secondary could not hold together in his absence. Jeffery took full advantage, gaining over 100 yards receiving for a third straight game while helping the Bears late in their pursuit for the go-ahead touchdown.

Stevie Johnson on Spike That Drew Penalty

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Asked about the spike that drew a delay of game penalty in the fourth quarter, Johnson said he was surprised by the call and initially tried to avoid discussing it further but was asked again and credited the mistake to being caught up with emotion, via Chargers.com. He added, "I got to be way more smart than that."

Emotions in a close game are understandable and go with being a competitor in this league, but Johnson needs to keep those emotions in check in such a key moment of the game. Had he not picked up the penalty, San Diego would have had a first down at Chicago's 4-yard line instead of the 9-yard line. Save that spike for when you catch a pass in the end zone.

Philip Rivers on Playing for Respect

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

At 2-7, it's not likely the Chargers end the season with a playoff bid in the AFC, and that seemed to be the feeling when Rivers addressed the media after the game, via Chargers.com:

"

At this point, I think you play for respect. When I say respect, the respect of other guys in the locker room. I really think there's nothing worth past it than that. That's what you play for. That's why I'm going to show up and continue to go...because I want to make sure that I continue to earn and have that from those other guys in there. So, I hope the rest of us will do the same.

"

San Diego's five-game losing streak is the longest since a six-game slide in 2011. When the Chargers return in Week 11, they'll host the Kansas City Chiefs for just their second division game of the season and hope to finish the year with a respectable standing.