The Chargers are 0-4, and their offense, which was supposed to be a powerhouse, is flat out broken right now. We’re a quarter of the way through the 2026 NFL season, and they are facing some massive weaknesses they’ve gotta solve, fast. People always wanna fire the play-callers when things go sideways, but honestly, these issues usually come down to the players on the field more than the coaches. You can’t just make one change and expect a total turnaround midseason, but there are definitely some “little things” these teams can do to get back to playing respectable football.
Herbert’s Passing Game Is A Total Trainwreck
Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel were supposed to ignite this Chargers’ attack, especially with a solid young feature back like Omarion Hampton. Part of that plan *is* working, kinda: the Chargers are the No. 9 rushing offense in the NFL, running the ball 46-54 percent of the time. Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal have even chipped in with some explosive plays and red zone contributions. But then there’s the passing game, and man, it’s a mess. They are ranked No. 24 in the entire league, averaging a measly 174.8 passing yards per game. That should NOT be happening with Justin Herbert at quarterback.
Herbert’s accuracy is off, his ball security is an issue, and it’s crystal clear he’s short on reliable, healthy targets, especially with Ladd McConkey now hurt too. On top of that, even their blocking tight ends, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar, are injured, and right tackle Joe Alt is battling a neck ailment. The solution? They need to become an even *more* run-heavy team. They gotta take the ball out of Herbert’s hands until he can get settled and adjust to shorter, intermediate passing. Tipping the balance to over 50 percent running would give that offensive line a much-needed break in pass protection and help them control the clock. At 0-4, with a brutal schedule still ahead after a tough start, their playoff chances are slim to none. They just need to play up to Harbaugh’s standard, and that starts by attacking the weak Bills run defense at home in Week 5.
The Lions’ Defense Is Swiss Cheese, And It’s Hurting
Then we’ve got the Detroit Lions, sitting at 2-2, but their defense? Oof. It’s an absolute disaster. They are dead last in total defense, giving up an average of 423.8 yards per game. It gets worse: they’re the absolute worst against the pass, hemorrhaging 304 yards per game through the air. They’re down to No. 21 against the run, giving up just shy of 120 yards per game. When you add all that up, it’s no surprise they’re giving up a league-worst 31.8 points per game.
Aidan Hutchinson is out there playing at a high level all-around, making plays, putting pressure on, stopping the run. But the other ten guys starting, including linebacker Jack Campbell and cornerback D.J. Reed, have been awful. Seriously, the few stops the Lions *do* get are almost always because of a Hutchinson pressure or a run stuff. Coach Dan Campbell isn’t wrong when he says defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard isn’t the problem, it’s the personnel. This defense is a mixed bag of journeymen and youngsters, and right now, it shows.
For the Chargers, it’s all about Week 5 at home against that Bills run defense. They gotta show us they can lean into the run and take the pressure off Herbert, even with the O-line banged up. For the Lions, they just have to figure out how to get literally anyone not named Aidan Hutchinson to make a play on defense. This isn’t just about winning games, it’s about getting respectable before the whole season goes off the rails for both squads.
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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