The Los Angeles Chargers are staring up from near the very bottom of the NFL after another loss pushed them to 0-6 and into the bye week with plenty of questions hanging over the team.
That latest defeat, a Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, sent the Chargers to No. 31 in Bleacher Report’s Week 7 power rankings. Only the 0-5 Miami Dolphins, who landed at No. 32, were below them.
It is a brutal place for a team that came into the year with hopes of being more than just competitive. The Chargers were supposed to be in the mix as a playoff team and maybe even in the AFC West race. Instead, those expectations look far away right now.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh did not shy away from the need to reassess things after the game. "Definitely, offensively, we need to evaluate," he said. We need to look at it all - everything we're doing, how we're doing it," Harbaugh said.
The biggest issue has been the offense, where quarterback Justin Herbert and company have not found a rhythm. The Chargers have turned the ball over 15 times, the most in the NFL, while forcing 10 takeaways of their own for a minus-5 turnover differential, which ranks as the fourth-worst mark in the league.
That’s been made worse by the injuries piling up across the roster. Los Angeles has been hit on the offensive line, at wide receiver and at tight end, leaving the unit stretched thin and forcing players into roles they do not normally handle.
Herbert has taken the heat, but the problems go beyond one player. The offense has not meshed, and the play calling from offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has not produced the steady answers this group needs.
Now the Chargers head into the bye with changes very much in play. It remains to be seen whether McDaniel keeps his job or gets another shot when the team returns in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, a game that already carries the feel of a must-win.
At this point, the playoff path and an AFC West title are both in serious doubt. What the Chargers can still try to do is find their first win and see if that sparks something. One clean game from the offense, defense and special teams together could be enough to start building momentum.
The next stretch will be about more than just the standings. It will also show whether the Chargers make any major moves with the coaching staff or roster, and how they respond once they get back on the field. If things do not turn quickly, this season could reach the point where the focus shifts from 2026 to 2027.
In Other News...
Chargers Winless Start Puts Omarion Hampton Decision Under Fire
With the Chargers still searching for their first win, the attention around their backfield has started to sharpen, especially when it comes to Omarion Hampton. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said the way Hampton is being used is tied to game situations, which is the kind of answer teams lean on when they want to keep the discussion focused on the bigger picture rather than one players workload. In a season where every decision gets magnified, that explanation matters because the Chargers do not have much room for second-guessing.
McDaniels point fits the broader tone around the division, where coaches are trying to steady things without making drastic moves. Sean Payton has said he is not planning to bench Bo Nix and wants his team to keep improving, while Andy Reid has expressed full confidence in Harrison Butker as the Chiefs kicker works through his issues. For the Chargers, the question around Hampton is less about whether he belongs in the plans and more about how long the current usage pattern holds if the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Seem To Be Delaying One Offensive Decision Fans Feared
The Chargers bye week has brought some much-needed breathing room after an 0-6 start, but it has not brought clarity on the offense. Mike McDaniel was seen at practice on Tuesday, a sign that he remains in place for now even as the units struggles have only intensified the questions around him.
There has been no official coaching change from the Chargers, and the team is using the week off to take a hard look at what has gone wrong. Jim Harbaugh is still evaluating the offense and has not ruled out a future change, leaving the situation open-ended as the Chargers try to decide whether patience or a reset is the better move. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh And Justin Herbert Are Becoming A Real Chargers Concern
Jim Harbaugh was brought in to stabilize the Chargers, but the early return has raised a more uncomfortable question around the teams most important player. Justin Herberts production has not matched the ceiling many expected in this offense, and The Athletics Mike Sando pointed to a drop in Herberts efficiency that has become hard to ignore as the Chargers try to find their footing under a coach known for building around structure and physicality.
The issue is not just one person or one call sheet, either. Harbaughs offensive choices and personnel decisions have drawn scrutiny, while general manager Joe Hortiz and Herbert himself also share in the blame for a unit that has not fully clicked. Even so, the bigger concern for the Chargers is obvious: if this is the environment Herbert is operating in now, the organization has to figure out whether it is helping its franchise quarterback or holding him back. [Read more 🡒]