Justin Herbert Has Completed Less Than 60 Percent of His Passes, and Chargers Fans Are Staring Down the Barrel of 0-3

The Los Angeles Chargers are already staring down a brutal 0-2 start to the NFL season, and the chatter around quarterback Justin Herbert’s struggles is getting louder. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport dropped a bomb Sunday on NFL Game Day Morning, saying a big part of the problem is Herbert is still adapting to his new offensive coordinator’s system, and it’s “incredibly complex.”

This Ain’t the Justin Herbert We Know

This ain’t the Herbert we know. Through two games, the guy has completed less than 60 percent of his passes. He’s only thrown for 401 yards, two touchdowns, and a cringe-worthy three interceptions. That’s not the MVP-caliber play we’ve seen from him! And it’s not just him. This whole offense is a mess! They racked up seven penalties and two turnovers in that season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Then, against the Las Vegas Raiders, they fumbled six times and got flagged for eight more penalties. Six fumbles, y’all? Head coach Jim Harbaugh himself admitted it the day after the Week 2 loss: “We’ve got some growing pains.” Tell us about it, coach.

Mike McDaniel’s ‘Complex’ Problem

So, what’s going on with this “incredibly complex” scheme? Mike McDaniel, who was fired from the Miami Dolphins after two years where his teams were top offenses, was brought in this offseason, but it looks like a rough transition. Rapoport’s understanding is that McDaniel’s offense is “probably more complex than people realize,” and that’s why Herbert “has not looked like themselves.” The goal, apparently, is to get Herbert to “just take the check down from time to time.” It sounds like they’re asking him to unlearn some stuff. Earlier this week, McDaniel was asked if he would simplify the offense for Week 3. He said he was considering it, but he’s trying not to “overreact.” He thinks they’re “building a foundation for the best play in December, and elimination football.” That’s a long-term view, but the Chargers are 0-2 *right now*. McDaniel also said the 0-2 start has “forced our hand into a lot of tape and conversations” and that he is “much closer to him now than I was two weeks ago.” He also claimed, “Two games in, I have a better idea of what guys are comfortable with right now.” It’s good he’s getting closer, but it feels like they’re figuring this out on the fly.

Now, the Chargers gotta turn this around. They’re heading into a 1 p.m. ET matchup against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. The good news? The Bills’ defense ranks 30th in passing yards allowed through two games. If Herbert and the Bolts offense can’t get it together against *that*, then those growing pains are about to turn into full-blown panic. This Week 3 game is absolutely massive.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Bleacher Report.