COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Last season the Los Angles Chargers were one of the best offenses in the NFL in the opening quarter, but so far this season the script has been flipped.

The Chargers have been outscored 50-7 in the opening quarter through six games. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chargers’ minus-43 scoring margin is the largest negative, first-quarter scoring margin through the first six games of a season since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a first-quarter margin of minus-55 in 2014.

“That’s just on us,” Chargers running back Melvin Gordon said. “As a unit we’ve got to be cleaner and sharper in what we do. The goal is to play faster and obviously go out there and be that explosive team that we know we can be.”

In 2016, the Chargers purred on offense to open games, scoring 65 points on their first possession. Only the Atlanta Falcons (69) scored more points on the opening possession last season.

However, this year, the Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears are the only teams with zero points on their first possession.

“We just have to execute,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “We talk about it. And, it’s coming, but I want it to come a little sooner. We’ve got the weapons to distribute the football, but early on, I think we’re just a little bit anxious.

“We want to get the ball down the field. Guys have got to settle in and we have to execute a little better. But, I like the way we finish.”

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' play has dipped on opening drives. Last year, he completed 80 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions, averaging 11.7 per completion on opening drives.

This season through six games, Rivers is completing just 18 percent of his passes (2 for 11) with no touchdowns and an interception, averaging an anemic 1.8 yards per completion on opening drives.

“We have to do a better job as an offense of just taking advantage,” Rivers said. “Just an urgency in which we play each drive as if, ‘Hey, we won’t get it back for a while maybe -- and that’s OK -- but let’s go.’”