The Los Angeles Chargers have spent most of their existence -- and the vast majority of their stint in L.A. -- muddling through heart-wrenching, stomach-churning, close losses, most recently evidenced by their 2-9 record in one-score games last season.

On Sunday, in their opener against the much-hyped Joe Burrow, a little luck was finally on their side.

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Randy Bullock shanked what would have been a game-tying, 31-yard field goal in the final seconds after his left calf suddenly cramped up, gifting the Chargers a 16-13 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday.

The Chargers failed to capitalize on key red zone opportunities and let Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, drive his team 79 yards in the final three minutes to place the Bengals in prime position for the game-winning score. But A.J. Green's touchdown -- a reaching, tippy-toe catch in the front of the end zone -- was nullified after he was called for offensive pass interference. Then Bullock’s kick sailed wide right.

The Chargers were fortunate. As if 2020 weren't weird enough.

Pivotal play: With the score tied at 13 and the Chargers beginning to build momentum early in the fourth quarter, Denzel Perryman launched himself at Bengals running back Joe Mixon, causing the fumble that sparked what became the game-winning drive. The play highlighted two key traits about these Chargers: They’re especially deep at linebacker, as evidenced by their ability to rotate good players through the position after Drue Tranquill’s gruesome ankle injury. And they’ll be much better at generating turnovers after ranking last in that department last season, which they showed with Melvin Ingram’s interception on the Bengals’ next drive.

Buy/sell on breakout performance: Joshua Kelley, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, scored the Chargers’ only touchdown with a 5-yard run and finished with 60 rushing yards on 12 carries, including a 26-yard run. The Chargers went into their Week 1 game open to using either Justin Jackson or Kelley as their No. 2 running back behind Austin Ekeler. Kelley made a statement in Week 1, getting the bulk of the work with Jackson sidelined by a quad injury, and might get those opportunities moving forward.

Troubling trend: The Chargers outgained the Bengals 362-295, and the differential was much bigger before Burrow’s late drive. Yet they won by only three. Finishing drives was an issue for them in their first game without Philip Rivers. The most glaring example followed Mixon’s fumble. The Chargers had first-and-goal from the Bengals’ 2-yard line but settled for a field goal. They got touchdowns on one of their three trips to the red zone.