Consecutive victories over two quality teams got San Diego coach Mike McCoy off the hot seat. But things got toasty again Sunday afternoon when the Chargers lost to the Broncos.

The primary question McCoy faced after the Chargers fell to 3-5 was why he chose to call four consecutive passes — out of the shotgun formation — when San Diego had a first-and-goal at Denver’s 2-yard line with just under 3 minutes left. San Diego trailed 27-19 and running back Melvin Gordon was having a huge day.

Instead, McCoy went with four passes, all incomplete, and lost by eight.

Denver’s defensive stand was the turning point in a strange, error-filled afternoon of football. Related Articles October 30, 2016 Defense’s big plays key Denver Broncos’ victory over San Diego Chargers

October 30, 2016 Broncos report card and game balls after Week 8 win against Chargers

October 30, 2016 Grade the Denver Broncos’ performance vs. the San Diego Chargers in Week 8

October 30, 2016 PHOTOS: Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers, Oct. 30 2016

October 30, 2016 WATCH: Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas’ 40-yard catch vs. the Chargers

Asked repeatedly why the Chargers didn’t attempt to smash the ball into the end zone — especially since Gordon had been pounding Denver’s defense en route to 111 yards rushing — McCoy skirted the questions with short, curt responses.

“We called what we did and it didn’t work, we are not going to second-guess it now,” said McCoy, the former Broncos’ offensive coordinator who took over as head coach in 2013.

Philip Rivers said he did not call any audibles during that sequence.

“We didn’t check off any runs,” Rivers said. “After the fact, maybe you say, ‘Shoot, maybe we should have run it once or twice down there, but when you are rolling and in the heat of it, you feel like you can score with what you call.”

Rivers said he regretted missing a third-down throw to tight end Antonio Gates on a pass toward the left corner of the end zone. Gates had a step on the defender.

“I was sick about that one,” he said. “I was trying to lay that ball out to Gates like I have done at lot of times over the last 10 years, and I just missed it.”

The Chargers beat the Broncos 21-13 on Oct. 13 at San Diego, but they are firmly anchored in the AFC West basement. Which once again raises questions about McCoy’s job security.

Following a 4-12 season a year ago, San Diego gave McCoy a one-year contract extension in hopes of gaining continuity and giving him another shot. Yet just four games into the season, the Chargers were 1-3, and had blown three fourth-quarter leads. All of which put McCoy’s job in jeopardy, according to multiple media reports.

Sunday, after another frustrating loss, all McCoy could do was think about all the plays his team failed to make.

“Against a good football team, there were too many mistakes,” he said. “We failed to capitalize on chances we had.”

Asked to assess his team at the midway point of the season, McCoy said: “There are plenty of things we have to correct.”

Test in the West

Oakland Raiders (6-2) Silver-and-black is now 5-0 on the road.

Denver Broncos (6-2) Orange-D still crushing, but offense is amiss.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) QB Alex Smith bruised and battered, but K.C. hanging tough.

San Diego Chargers (3-5) Big plays missing at key times and ‘Bolts have lost eight consecutive AFC West road games.

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post