Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh just cracked the top 10 QB/Head Coach duos in the NFL for 2026, landing at No. 9 according to CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell. Yeah, No. 9. They barely edged out the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen, but this ranking isn’t just a number. It’s a full-on breakdown of what went wrong and what needs to change ASAP for the Chargers. This isn’t just about talent, it’s about maximizing their star power.
The O-Line Nightmare That Held Them Back
You gotta wonder how high Herbert and Harbaugh would be if their offensive line wasn’t a catastrophe in 2025. Podell didn’t mince words: the Chargers gave up an *historic* 60 sacks, the most in team history. Sixty! That’s brutal. They also led the entire NFL with a staggering 138 quarterback hits. Imagine your star taking that kind of punishment weekly. It was a revolving door too, with an unbelievable 11 different offensive line combinations starting, tied for the most in the league because of injuries. How do you even build chemistry with that kind of turnover? It’s almost unbelievable that Herbert, with his 24,820 total passing yards ranking second-most in a player’s first six NFL seasons, stayed upright and produced. That dude is tough as nails, deserving better protection.
Wild Card Run, But Still Missing That Something
Despite all that chaos up front, this duo somehow managed to drag Los Angeles into the postseason. They clawed their way to an AFC Wild Card spot, which is a testament to Herbert’s insane talent and Harbaugh’s focus. But that offensive line nightmare came back to haunt them hard when it mattered most. It totally disintegrated in the New England January air during the Wild Card round, proving you can’t win when your quarterback runs for his life in the biggest game. Podell nailed it: the only things holding this pairing back are consistent team health, especially up front, and postseason success. You can make the dance, but you have to compete. With Omarion Hampton predicted to win the rushing title, maybe that ground game takes some pressure off Herbert.
Week 1 and the Road Ahead for the Bolts
Now, with Week 1 of the 2026 season just around the corner for the Chargers, all eyes are on how they address those critical health issues, particularly on that offensive line. Can they finally keep Herbert protected and give him time? Can they build on that Wild Card appearance and actually make a deep run? This duo clearly has the talent, but until they can put together a full, healthy season and make serious noise deep into January, that No. 9 ranking will feel like a ceiling. They’ve got to prove they are more than a regular season threat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bolts from the Blue.
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