The winless Los Angeles Chargers are deep in offensive despair, and head coach Jim Harbaugh is finally putting the onus squarely on his starting quarterback, Justin Herbert. After their 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Harbaugh’s message to Herbert was crystal clear: “Be better.” That’s a huge shift from just a week ago when Harbaugh said he “wouldn’t change a thing about Justin,” showing how quickly things are spiraling in the early season down south.
Herbert’s Early Season Nightmare
Three games into Mike McDaniel’s offensive coordinator stint, Herbert looks lost out there. His QBR sits at a dismal 27.4, which puts him at a shocking 29th in the entire league! And get this, his 59.1% completion rate is a career-low. The dude’s thrown at least one interception in every single start, with one costly pick in the end zone against the Bills that flat out nullified a red zone possession. We’re talking stalled drives, zero explosiveness, and an offense that just cannot stay on schedule. Herbert, usually known for his arm strength, hasn’t been able to unleash it downfield because the plays just aren’t developing. This is especially frustrating when you consider Harbaugh’s defense forced five turnovers in that same game. It’s like two different teams out there. Herbert himself sounds stumped, admitting, “That’s a great question. That’s something that we have to figure out.”
What’s Really Plaguing the Bolt Brain Trust?
So, what’s actually going wrong? Former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko hit “X” after the Week 3 loss, saying the offensive personnel has been “poorly constructed” around Herbert for ages, forcing him to press instead of just executing. And against the Bills, the execution was just plain faulty. They only scored 16 points. We’re talking three drops that killed big gains and five penalties in the third quarter that were totally deflating. Harbaugh, who normally keeps his cards close, is clearly trying to light a fire under his quarterback and the whole offensive unit. It’s a crucial junction for them.
What’s Next for the Chargers, and What Does It Mean for the Emerald City?
The road ahead for the Bolts is brutal. They’re staring down a gauntlet of games against our very own **Seahawks (2-1)**, the Broncos (2-1), the undefeated Chiefs (3-0), and the Rams (1-2). If that offense doesn’t get fixed, and fast, Los Angeles will bury itself in the playoff discussion before we even hit the halfway mark of the season. Our Hawks are rolling at 2-1 and facing a winless team in absolute disarray? You better believe Mike Macdonald and Sam Darnold are going to be licking their chops. We’ll be watching how that defense, led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed on offense for our boys, prepares for a team that seems completely out of sync. This next game could be a real statement for the Emerald City.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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