Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh wasn’t pulling punches Monday after his team’s Week 1 upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He went right for the gut, expressing serious regret about resting his starters too much in the preseason. Harbaugh admitted the team made several “preseason type mistakes” that could’ve been avoided with more game reps for the starters ahead of the regular season. That’s a huge red flag for a team many expected to be a playoff contender.
Herbert and McDaniel’s Offense: What Went Wrong?
The hype around offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s arrival and the potential for him to unlock Justin Herbert’s “next step” was massive. Herbert and McDaniel reportedly put in plenty of work during offseason practices, but Week 1 did not go their way at all. Herbert finished the game completing 17 of 27 passes for a measly 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did scramble for 29 yards on five attempts, but the overall offensive output was rough. They scored a rushing touchdown on their first drive, which looked promising, but then the wheels fell off. Their next three possessions ended in a fumble, a turnover on downs, and a punt. Herbert eventually found Ladd McConkey for an eight-yard score in the third, but after that, the offense just flatlined. They closed the game with a punt, a blocked punt, another interception (a “prayer” throw into double coverage, yikes!), and then back-to-back turnovers on downs. You can’t win football games like that.
Defense Collapses, Penalties Pile Up
Harbaugh’s concerns weren’t just about the offense either. The defense, under Mike LaFleur in his head-coaching debut for Arizona, gave up 26 points to Jacoby Brissett and rookie Jeremiah Love. That’s not the kind of showing you want from a supposed contender. On top of that, the Chargers racked up seven penalties for 64 yards. While the Cardinals had more penalties (eight for 111 yards), LA’s two turnovers compared to Arizona’s zero, plus going 2-8 on third downs and 0-3 on fourth-down attempts, spells disaster. Those kinds of fundamental errors scream exactly what Harbaugh was talking about: “preseason type mistakes” that cost them a game.
This Week 1 home loss stings for the Chargers, big time. They’ve gotta shake it off fast because Week 2 brings the Las Vegas Raiders to SoFi Stadium. Don’t let that “easier matchup on paper” fool you: the Raiders just dropped 27 on the Miami Dolphins in a Week 1 win, and they might even get tight end Brock Bowers back after his knee procedure. This next game is huge for Harbaugh to prove his team can actually play when it counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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