A second consecutive loss to begin the season has the Chargers plummeting down power rankings even more this week. For the first time since Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach, you’re be hard-pressed to find an outlet that still views the Chargers as a top-20 team.
How could they not, though? They’re one of the few 0-2 teams right now and the product on the field makes fans feel like they were hoodwinked all offseason. It’s preposterous that all of the highlight reels and hype from training camp
was filled with that much smoke. It just doesn’t compute and it looks like the coaching staff feels almost shaken as the fan base.
But luckily it’s a long season and while it doesn’t look very likely, there’s still a non-zero chance the Chargers can turn this around and become the team they were supposed to be. That’s enough hope to clean on to, right?
…Right?
ESPN – #22
“For the past two Sundays, this Chargers’ offense has looked like a unit that hadn’t practiced together before. Herbert looks lost and, at moments, angrier than he has ever been at the helm of a flat offense. He had three fumbles (all recovered) and two interceptions Sunday, though one was because of a dropped pass by tight end David Njoku. This new offense under coordinator Mike McDaniel was supposed to elevate this team into a championship contender. Instead, its star quarterback looks almost unrecognizable.” – Kris Rhim
CBS Sports – #23
“They are in major trouble. They are 0-2 and face a brutal seven-game stretch that could have them out of the playoff race by midseason. Ouch.” – Pete Prisco
theScore – #24
“It’s a long season. The Chargers have been football’s most disappointing team; even their best players have no answers for their offensive struggles. But there’s a lot of season left, and that should give L.A. fans some optimism despite a terrifying stretch from Weeks 3-10.” – theScore staff
Bleacher Report – #25
“There isn’t a team in the NFL that should be freaking out more two weeks into the season than the Los Angeles Chargers. Of that there is zero doubt.”
“The Chargers were supposed to be contenders. And with two straight home games against perceived tomato cans, the Chargers were supposed to start the season hot.”
“Instead, the Chargers are winless. The offense hasn’t scored more than 14 points in a game. The defense has allowed 52 points to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.”
“Now? That soft schedule becomes Mortal Kombat “fatality” time. Between now and the bye, the Bolts face Buffalo and Seattle (both on the road) before hosting the Broncos and traveling to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs.”
“Given that schedule and what we have seen from this team to date in 2026, the Chargers may well be cooked by Halloween.” — Brad Davenport
Pro Football Talk – #25
“At least they do really good schedule-release videos.” – Mike Florio
The Athletic – #27
Rookie spotlight: Jake Slaughter
It was a bad omen when free-agent center Tyler Biadasz suffered a torn ACL in training camp, thrusting Slaughter, a second-round pick, into the starting lineup for a team that was expected to contend. The Chargers’ collapse certainly hasn’t been his fault, but his presence in the lineup is more evidence (if we needed any) that this team is suffering through some kind of curse.“ – Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
NFL.com – #29
I find it hard to believe that, after two weeks, the Chargers are here, below the Browns, Jets, Titans and Commanders. And yet, they haven’t played better than any of those teams to this point. Justin Herbert still rips a few beautiful throws per game, but there’s no telling whether his teammate on the receiving end will actually hang on to the ball. The mistakes and sloppiness on both sides — pre-snap penalties, dropped passes, fumbles, blown coverages — are too frequent, and this team looks nothing like one coached by a Harbaugh. Los Angeles was in position to win Sunday, and ended up losing by 12 to a Las Vegas team that won three games last year. There’s plenty to correct and a brutal schedule ahead for the Bolts, whose 0-2 start might only be the beginning of their problems.” – Nick Shook
