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The Chargers are one of three winless teams left in the NFL at 0-6, with the Miami Dolphins being the other at 0-5 after their bye week last week. We all figured Miami would be one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2026, but no one expected the Chargers to be this bad.
The last time the Chargers were 0-6 to start a season was 2000, and Jim Harbaugh was their quarterback. Harbaugh is currently in the middle of his third season since returning to the NFL, after his now infamous exit at Michigan, where he won the 2023 National Championship.
Los Angeles ranks seventh-worst in total yardage on offense, which is the primary statistic the franchise was banking on being improved by bringing in former Dolphin head coach Mike McDaniel as the offensive coordinator this summer.
McDaniel interviewed for the Head Coach position with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns (which he later removed his name from consideration), Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders before joining Harbaugh’s staff.
Through six weeks, only the Dolphins (70), Tennessee Titans (70) and Chargers (90) have yet to reach 100 points. Their minus-five turnover differential (10 takeaways, 15 giveaways) are fourth-worst in the NFL. The irony is not lost in the 10 takeaways being fifth-best, but the 15 giveaways are a league worst. A large factor of that are the eight interceptions by quarterback Justin Herbert, which are tied with New England’s Drake Maye for the most in the NFL. Herbert threw 13 picks all of last season.
Los Angeles signed Herbert to a five-year, $262.5 million extension prior to the 2023 season, which was justified by earning a 2025 Pro Bowl trip. Thus far In 2026, Herbert has a sub-60% completion percentage (59.4), which is the lowest of his career. He has also fumbled six times, thankfully the Chargers have recovered all of them. Last season Herbert put the ball on the turf seven times, and has fumbled eight times in a season twice as a career-high.
When you see that the Chargers have only five punts all season, third fewest in the league, you would think that something has to be going right on the offense. The Chargers do rank in the middle of the pack in items like first downs, third-down efficiency,
McDaniel’s offense is not just bad, it is downright laughable at times. Herbert has been sacked 21 times, which is second-most in the NFL behind Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson (24). Herbert ranks 33rd in quarterback rating, and 31st in passer rating. Keep mind that there are only 32 teams in the NFL, and Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta have all started multiple quarterbacks this year due to injury.
Brian Daboll handcuffed Josh Allen in Buffalo, and was let go. Joe Brady came in as offensive coordinator, Allen won the MVP last season, and Brady was elevated to head coach after Sean McDermott stepped down after another playoff defeat. Did McDaniel do the same to Herbert in 2026?
If you do need to find highlights that will make you smile this season involving the Chargers, simply jump on YouTube or Instagram and watch NFL content creator and comedian Annie Agar’s “Weekly Meeting” series. Thus far every new game represents a new joke to be made at McDaniel’s success. In Week Two she indicated that McDaniel was the smartest person in any room they were in, but only because Tua Tagovailoa was in the same room. In Week One her portrayal of McDaniel was highlighted by asking if he did anything positive in Miami.
The very next image was her wearing a Tua jersey and a Cleveland Guardians baseball cap instead.
Harbaugh has refused to comment on McDaniel’s future, but you can set your watch to when the playcalling duties will be relinquished, and if McDaniel makes the end of the season if the losses continue to mount. For all the last-place teams that are .500, the Chargers certainly have the most talent, yet the season is already lost before Halloween before one of the teams in Los Angeles.
-JC24