If the NFL asks the San Diego Chargers next year if they'd like to again play the late game of the annual Week 1 "Monday Night Football" doubleheader, you have to imagine they'll decline. And not politely so.
For the second straight year, in the same time slot, the Chargers' season started by blowing a second-half lead and losing in heartbreaking fashion. The Cardinals trailed 17-6 in the fourth quarter, but rallied. Rookie receiver John Brown weaved his way through the Chargers' defense for a 13-yard touchdown to take an 18-17 lead with a little more than two minutes left. The Cardinals got a fourth-down stop on San Diego's next drive and then ran out the clock in a game that ended about 1:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Last year the Texans came back from a 21-point second half deficit to beat the Chargers in the second game of the opening week Monday night doubleheader. Maybe the Chargers have early bedtimes and can't function that late at night.
Like last year's collapse, the Chargers made plenty of mistakes to open the door for the Cardinals. The worst error came with about seven-and-a-half minutes left. On a third down at Arizona's 29, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had a shotgun snap go through his hands. He recovered, but the 14-yard loss put San Diego out of field-goal range. That would be pretty crucial given the final score.*
The Cardinals still had to go and win the game, and started their game-winning drive at their own 9. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer converted two big third downs, one on an unlikely 12-yard scramble on third and 10. He also threw the game-winning touchdown, although Brown did most of the work, taking a short pass and using his quickness to dart into the end zone.
The Cardinals didn't sit back on the Chargers' last drive. They sent a few all-out blitzes, including on fourth and 2. Rivers' pass was tipped at the line, and Keenan Allen had it in his hands but couldn't haul it in.

Now the Chargers have to play the Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champs, in Week 2. The Chargers have to wonder why they were scheduled to play in the latest game that will be played in the NFL this season, which ended when most people had already gone to bed, and got matched up with a team that played last Thursday. That's almost 100 hours of extra preparation and rest time for the champs.
Last season's Week 1 nightmare didn't keep the Chargers out of the playoffs. They made it as a wild card and won a playoff game. Still, it's not the way San Diego wants to start the season, especially for a second straight season.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab