The Los Angeles Chargers are absolutely reeling, sitting at a shocking 0-2, and they’re already staring down what feels like a do-or-die game this Sunday against the Bills in Buffalo. This isn’t what anyone expected from Jim Harbaugh’s squad, especially after they racked up 11 wins and made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Year three under Harbaugh was supposed to be a continuation of that success, but what we’re seeing right now is just not it. This team, a 2025 AFC playoff contender, looks lost, and the season is barely out of the gate.
This Ain’t the Harbaugh Team We Know
Listen, the hype for the Bolts coming into this year was real, but their start has been one of the biggest surprises in the league. And not in a good way. Remember those 0-3 teams that somehow clawed their way into the playoffs? Since 1990, only four clubs have pulled that off: the ’92 Chargers, ’95 Lions, ’98 Bills, and the ’18 Texans. That’s a tiny club, and with two brutal losses already, the Chargers are teetering on the edge of joining it. This isn’t just a bad start; it’s a historically bad one. They were 9.5-point home favorites in Week 1 and got handled by Arizona, losing 26-14. Then, Week 2, they were favored by 6.5 points at home and, you guessed it, got handled by Las Vegas, again 26-14. Are you seeing that score theme? That’s not a coincidence, folks.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: This Is a Mess
It gets worse. Much, much worse. Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was supposed to light up that offense as the new offensive coordinator, but so far, it’s been a total bust. In their last loss, the Chargers had *six* fumbles, the most in a single game since 1987! Yeah, they only lost one, but that’s still unbelievably sloppy. Add eight penalties and three turnovers to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Alt had a nightmare, getting flagged four times himself, including three false starts and a holding call in the end zone that led to a safety. And let’s not forget free-agent center Tyler Biadasz, who was brought in to bolster the O-Line, but got hit with a season-ending knee injury in training camp. The crazy part? They lost both games to clubs that dropped at least 14 games last season, and their opponents, the Raiders and Cardinals, picked No. 1 and No. 3 overall in the 2026 draft! This squad is the first in league history to start 0-2 with losses to teams that were that bad the year before. They’re also only the third team since 1970 to lose as at least a 6-point favorite in Weeks 1 and 2, and the second team ever to start 0-2 with defeats to teams with a winning percentage under .200 in the previous season. That’s just sad, man.
So, here we are. Sunday. Buffalo. It’s a 1 p.m. ET kick on FOX, and the weather is looking pretty nice: sunshine, some clouds, 68F, and light winds. But don’t let that fool you. This isn’t just another game for the Chargers; this is the season. Buffalo is a -7 favorite, and more than 95% of the handle and tickets are on them. Over 50.5 points is getting some love too. If they can’t turn it around now, against a fellow 2025 AFC playoff team, then what are we even doing here? This is it.
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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