SAN DIEGO _ The Chargers on Sunday did what many might have thought impossible: They found a new way to lose.
Holding a 13-point lead with less than 7 minutes remaining and in possession of the ball, the Chargers fumbled on consecutive plays and wound up losing, 35-34, to the previously winless New Orleans Saints.
A stunned Qualcomm Stadium crowd watched the home team fall to 1-3, the same record as the Saints. San Diego already trails Denver by 3 games in the AFC West.
Melvin Gordon, who had scored two touchdowns as the Chargers built a 34-21 lead, fumbled with 6:40 to go and New Orleans recovered at the 13. On fourth down, Drew Brees _ playing at Qualcomm Stadium as an opponent for the first time _ connected with Michael Thomas on a 5-yard touchdown with 4:53 left.
Following the kickoff, the Chargers took over at their 25 and Philip Rivers completed a short pass to Travis Benjamin. Incredibly, Benjamin then dropped the ball without being touched, and New Orleans recovered at the 31.
The Saints took the lead for good with 1:57 left on Jon Kuhn's third TD of the game, a 1-yard run. The Chargers did nothing on their final attempt and somehow they had lost again.
Rivers was 28-of-43 for 321 yards and two touchdowns, plus one desperation interception. Brees was 23-of-36 for 206 yards with two TDs and two INTs.
