The Los Angeles Chargers are already staring down a grim 7.2% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN’s FPI, just two weeks into the 2026 NFL season. This is absolutely brutal, especially for a team that rolled into the year as one of the most hyped squads in the league, all thanks to adding Mike McDaniel. But man, after an 0-2 start, it looks like that hype has completely evaporated.
A Disastrous Start With No End In Sight
It’s been a straight-up disaster for the Chargers. They kicked off their season by dropping Week 1 to the Arizona Cardinals, then followed that up with another loss in Week 2 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Both games ended with the exact same 26-14 score. Identical! What’s going on down there? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell didn’t hold back, flat-out calling it a “disaster,” and honestly, who can argue? Their offense looks like a total mess, and their defense is questionable at best. We’re only in September, and their season is already on thin ice. With those dismal 7.2% playoff odds, sitting 26th in the league, you have to wonder if they can even dig themselves out of this hole.
Brutal Schedule Ahead, Including A Visit To Our House
And let me tell you, it doesn’t get any easier for them. If they thought those first two losses were bad, they’re about to walk into a nightmare schedule. These weren’t just any losses; those were games they absolutely *needed* to win. Now, they’re heading into a Week 3 matchup on the road against the Buffalo Bills. Ouch. But guess who they get right after that? That’s right, in Week 4, the Chargers are making the trip up here to play *our* Seattle Seahawks! Both the Bills and the Seahawks games are on the road for them. Then they get a “reprieve” with a home game against the Denver Broncos, only to follow that up with a road trip to face the Kansas City Chiefs before their Week 7 bye. Even coming out of the bye, it’s a gauntlet: the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens are next up. Looking at that, you can see why the AFC West division title is already pretty much out of reach for them. Their best shot would be a Wild Card spot, but that feels like a massive stretch, especially with teams like the Patriots, Bills, Bengals, and Ravens all fighting for those same spots.
This team is going to need to pull off some serious upsets to make anything happen. The odds are stacked against them, and they’re not getting any favors from that schedule. So when they roll into Lumen Field in Week 4, the 12s better be ready to show them exactly what a real, passionate football team looks like. They’re already desperate; let’s make them even more so. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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