The Chargers were trampled by lead rusher Jonathan Taylor in the loss to the Colts

Charger had the same idea. All gold uniforms. Retro logo. Powder blue end zones with a script from the nostalgic days of Don Fouts and Don Coryell.

But their defense?

Died like disco when it counted the most.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher, crushed the Chargers with touchdowns of 23, eight and 19 yards in a 38-24 victory Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

“Until we fix this, until we put this fire out…” Chargers All-Pro safety Drouin James Jr. said. “The last two, three games, we didn’t defend ourselves.”

The Chargers have lost three of their last four games and need some quick-drying cement to patch up the hole with Minnesota coming into town for Thursday night’s game.

“Short week,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We haven’t played our best at any stage, but now is the time to regroup, rebuild and prepare.”

If Harbaugh had any answers, he didn’t share them outside the locker room on Sunday. He stood before the media, took the lecture and looked away.

“It wasn’t our best day, but do I believe in my team? Yes,” he said. “Do I believe they fight? Yes. And that’s all you can really ask for as a coach.”

It was just another Sunday for Taylor that came during Week 7 leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, and averaging 5.9 yards per carry against a Chargers defense that was respectable to that point. That defense has allowed an average of 20.8 points in its last six games.

That helped open up passing lanes for Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who threw a pair of touchdowns and then made an early-season case for Comeback Player of the Year after his career apparently took off with the New York Giants.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is tackled by Chargers linebacker Odoff Oh in the first half of the Chargers’ 38-24 rout Sunday.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

It was the second trip to Los Angeles in four weeks for the Colts, who lost to the Rams here in Week 4.

The Chargers, whose unique style was a hallmark of the 1970s, were sleepers in the first half before coming alive in the second half.

Justin Herbert kept the home team somewhat in the game with three touchdown passes after halftime but found himself struggling to climb out of a deep hole all day.

The Chargers actually outgained the Colts 445 yards to 401, and held the ball for nine minutes, but Indianapolis was more efficient with its possessions, was better in the red zone, and capitalized on opportunities.

He saw two of his passes intercepted in the first half. The first hit the ball high in the air at the line of scrimmage and was tackled by 314-pound defensive tackle Grover Stewart. The second pick came in the red zone, when safety Nick Cross ran in front of Quentin Johnston in the end zone for an eight-yard pass interception.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert slides during a layup in the second half Sunday.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The Chargers, who trailed 23-3 at halftime, clawed their way back into the game with touchdown passes to Johnston, Keenan Allen and Orond Goodden II.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Chargers, who ran the table in the AFC West in the first three weeks, then lost back-to-back games to the Giants and Washington Commanders before rebounding with a back-to-back win in Miami.

Denver came from behind Sunday to beat the Giants, 33-32, knocking the Chargers out of first place in the division. Meanwhile, Kansas City outscored Las Vegas, 31-0, and may have picked up some of that familiar momentum. It doesn’t get any easier for the Chargers.

Herbert was hit 15 times by the Colts — three times more than Jones was by the Chargers — and sacked three times. More penalties for a quarterback who is under intense pressure throughout the season.

“It’s football,” he said. “That’s part of the job. We hit the ball a lot today and that’s going to happen. The offensive line does an unbelievable job and I can always get the ball out early.”

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin breaks up a pass to Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the end zone during the fourth quarter Sunday.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Against the Colts, trouble began for the Chargers. After the home team’s first snap, the Chargers faced Austin DeColes with a touchdown. He was the team’s fourth player to line up as Herbert’s blind protege.

It was an ankle injury that took DeColes down — he returned with a major concussion in the second quarter — and the Chargers turned to the less experienced Foster-Cerial, who suddenly had one of the most important positions on the field.

Just more offensive line interest for the Chargers, who have thrown six tackles so far. Their line was once considered a field of strength.

The Chargers are ditching the “College Gold” uniforms and replacing them with the familiar Navy on Thursday. However, they must do more than make superficial changes.

James, for one, is happy that the next game will come soon.

“Yes, sir,” he said with little optimism. “I can’t wait to taste it out of my mouth.”