Updated

SAN DIEGO (AP) Chargers coach Mike McCoy is defending his decision not to use his final two timeouts at the end of the first half of Sunday's loss at Cincinnati and at least get the ball back and take a few shots down the field.

The Chargers trailed 14-6 at the time and ended up losing 24-19 in a game in which they had three turnovers, some foolish penalties, got pushed around on both sides of the ball and failed to sack Andy Dalton.

The Bengals had the ball at their 41 with 1:16 left in the first half and were content to run out the clock. McCoy, as he's done before, didn't use his timeouts.

McCoy said Monday his main reason for not stopping the clock was that the Chargers were getting the second-half kickoff.