Mike McCoy on late loss to Saints: 'Frustration is an understatement'

SAN DIEGO -- Angered by his team's inability to finish games, San Diego Chargerscoach Mike McCoy fumed after Sunday's latest setback, which saw the Chargers waste a 13-point lead in the last five minutes against the New Orleans Saintsat Qualcomm Stadium.

"[I'm] furious," McCoy said when asked about his state of mind after the 35-34 loss. "It's a major disappointment. You get the lead we had, and to fall apart -- a major disappointment. Frustration is an understatement. I can't say right now in this microphone how I really, truly feel."

The Chargers fell to 3-12 in games decided by eight points or less dating back to last season under McCoy. And with the Chargers at 1-3, McCoy's job status is tenuous for the rest of the season.

Chargers brass considered letting McCoy go after a 4-12 campaign last season, but instead fired seven assistant coaches and gave the embattled coach a one-year extension through the 2017 season.

One of the coaches San Diego brought back was offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who has head-coaching experience and could serve as an interim head coach if the Chargers decide to fire McCoy during the season.

The last time the Chargers fired a coach during a season was in 1998, when Kevin Gilbride was let go after six games. June Jones, the offensive coordinator at the time, served as the team's interim head coach for the rest of the season.

For now, McCoy said he believes players still have confidence in his ability to get the job done, and added he's not concerned about his job status.

The Chargers have lost 15 of their past 20 games dating back to last season, including a winless record (0-9) in the AFC West.

"I know one way -- to come in tomorrow, work my ass off and get this team ready to go to Oakland," McCoy said when asked about his job security. "I don't worry about any of that. I am coaching this football team the way I know how to do it, and we're going to grind."

Quarterback Philip Rivers agreed and said that players should shoulder more of the blame.

"Yeah, we still believe," Rivers said. "Growing up with my dad as the head coach and knowing how important coaching is, believe me, I'm not discounting it. But out of all games played so far this year, I feel as players we should have won them all. But we sit here and we've only won one of them."