Talk about a gut punch to start the season. The Los Angeles Chargers, who came into 2026 with sky-high expectations for their offense under coordinator Mike McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert, are staring down an ugly 0-4 record. It’s a rough start for a team that many thought would be humming, and it looks like the fan base is already restless.
High Hopes, Low Scores: What’s Going Wrong?
This was supposed to be the year McDaniel and Herbert clicked, leading a high-powered Chargers offense. Instead, they’ve completely cratered, averaging a dismal 16.8 points per game. That’s just not gonna cut it in the modern NFL. And if you’re wondering about Herbert, the guy everyone thought was a superstar, well, his passer rating is currently better than only Jameis Winston among qualified quarterbacks. Ouch. When you have talent like Herbert, you expect a lot more than that, and it’s clear the results aren’t matching the hype.
McDaniel: “With the Territory”
Despite the noise, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has publicly stated that McDaniel’s job isn’t in jeopardy. But you know how it goes: when a team goes 0-4 after big expectations, the calls for change start flying. McDaniel, a former head coach himself with the Dolphins, isn’t blind to it. On Thursday, he straight-up admitted that he understands why people are calling for his job, saying it comes “with the territory of the job.” He even added, “When you have high expectations and you’re getting the results we’re getting and you’re 0-4, that’s pretty standard operating procedure.” Sounds like he gets it. His focus, he says, is solely on figuring out how the team can get “better results on the field.”
He’s not wrong, though. When you’re this bad after being hyped up, disappointment is inevitable. McDaniel knows that changing the narrative means changing the actions. “If our results are better, that’s the only thing th”
The message is clear: the Chargers have to figure out their offense. They need to turn these conversations about job security into conversations about actual wins. Can they pull it off? Only action on the field will tell.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply