Felled by stunning sting of Dart

Chargers' first loss at hands of Giants' rookie quarterback

- BY SAM FARMER

RECEIVER KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84) can't make the catch as cornerback Paulson Adebo defends for the previously winless Giants.

(Adam Hunger Associated Press)

Before they boarded their airport-bound buses for their 3,000-mile trip across the country Sunday, the physically spent Chargers were a collection of thousand-mile stares.

Not that they were anticipating an undefeated season — they were bound to lose sometime — but did anyone think they would fall to a winless team starting a rookie quarterback who had never thrown an NFL pass?

RUSTY JONES Associated Press

FORMER USC playcaller Jaxson Dart shined in his debut start, accounting for two touchdowns Sunday.

“It stings,” said coach Jim Harbaugh, trying to wrap his head around a 21-18 defeat to the New York Giants and savvy-beyond-his-years quarterback Jaxson Dart, making his rookie debut in place of the benched Russell Wilson.

Dart, who began his college career at USC before moving on to Mississippi, was both deft and durable, running for a touchdown, scoring a second with a shovel pass, and repeatedly climbing back to his feet after absorbing five sacks, four by linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu.

Now it’s on the Chargers to climb back onto their own feet after starting the day as one of the NFL's six undefeated teams, emboldened by three consecutive AFC West victories.