Entering the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Chargers were a strong favorite to reach the Super Bowl. Now, their season is on the verge of disaster as they head into week three. Both sides of the ball appear to be lost. Already 0-2, their next seven opponents pose arguably the hardest stretch for any schedule in the league, with LA facing the risk of going 0-9.
The Bolts’ offseason was headlined by the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The pairing appeared to be made in heaven. In theory, his pairing with Justin Herbert should lead to a top-10 offense. Herbert is the best QB McDaniel has ever worked with. Add running back Omari Hampton and wideout Lad McConkey, and the Chargers offense should be the perfect fit for the coordinator’s run/play-action heavy scheme. The results through week two have been nothing short of disappointing.
The Los Angeles offense ranks 29th in points per game, 22nd in passing yards per game, and 19th in rushing yards per game. Herbert has opened the season with two touchdowns and three interceptions, 59% completion, and a poor QBR of 28.7. He not only has to elevate his play but also his leadership. While his teammates have repeatedly defended him as their vocal leader, there has been a growing rumbling from the outside as to his lacking leadership qualities. As the quarterback, it falls on Herbert’s shoulders to step up and light a fire under the team on game day.
Harbaugh May Have Lost A Step
Herbert is not the only reason the Chargers have stumbled out of the gate. The problems extend throughout the roster and ultimately back to the coaching staff. The issues start at the top. The buck stops with the head coach. When a team steps onto a field unprepared, lacking details, and failing at fundamentals, it reflects poorly on the coaching. Harbaugh is known for his gritty teams, combining discipline with being a player’s coach. He is a football guy. Harbaugh self-describes his teams’ identity as wrapped in “blocking, tackling, toughness, playing smart, playing fast, playing physical” football fundamentals. The message appears to have not hit home.
Not all the blame can fall on the quarterback. Self-inflicted wounds have also plagued the team. Drops have been an early issue for the receivers, including one of Herbert’s interceptions against the Raiders. False starts, fumbled snaps, and shaky handoffs bring into question the fundamentals of the team. The mental errors are not the typical characteristics of a Harbaugh squad. NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky described the team as “looking remarkably unprepared.” Add this to a less-than-stellar defense and the Chargers are on the verge of a complete collapse.
On paper, Los Angeles has the players and coach to bounce back from their rough start. Unfortunately, what works in theory does not always pan out in reality. In 2011, the Eagles fielded the “Dream Team.” Talent alone was not enough, as the Eagles started that season 1-4 and missed the playoffs. It is still too early in the season to make a final judgment, but the initial takeaway brings a lot of questions.
Harbaugh arrived in 2024, stating, “When you said, ‘We’re hungry to win. I’m hungry to win.” No one questions his desire to win games, but the team has to buy into the message. It is not enough for the coach to love winning if the team does not, and a team can quickly lose faith in the coaching philosophy when success becomes scarce.
LA Faces A Brutal Schedule Stretch
As if the media firestorm surrounding the team is not enough, the Chargers enter the “valley of the shadow of death” starting this week in Buffalo. After taking on the league’s hottest team, LA faces off with the Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans, and Ravens. In the event that they lose to the Bills, the Chargers will have to travel across the country to take on a Sam Darnold-led Seahawks team at the twelfth man. What has started as 0-2 can quickly become 0-4.
In the event the Chargers go winless in September, the downward spiral could get out of control. Even at their best, LA faces an uphill battle against some of the stoutest competition in the league. Locker rooms can rally around grit and toughness, but can also unravel when the losses begin to pile on. Without any reprieve in the schedule until the end of November, Chargers fans should be extremely concerned that they will be picking in the top-10 come March.
