The Los Angeles Chargers have emerged as one of the most disappointing teams in the National Football League after opening the 2026 season with an 0-2 record. Their latest setback came Sunday in a 26-14 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, a game that underscored ongoing offensive struggles and raised questions about preparation and execution.
Despite playing at home against two of the NFL’s weakest teams from last season—the Arizona Cardinals and the Raiders—the Chargers have failed to capitalize on these favorable matchups. Both opponents have been navigating transition periods, fielding veteran backup quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Kirk Cousins, respectively. The Chargers, however, have been unable to assert dominance even with key players like quarterback Justin Herbert, left tackle Rashawn Slater, and others healthy and on the field.
Through two games, Los Angeles ranks near the bottom in scoring, beating out only the struggling Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins, teams grappling with quarterback injuries, aging stars, and salary cap constraints. The Chargers offense has been plagued by sloppy execution, committing six fumbles in Sunday’s game alone—though only one was lost—and multiple dropped passes, including a costly interception caused by tight end David Njoku’s mishandling on a critical third down.
Players have openly acknowledged the team’s frustrations. Slater described their performance as self-inflicted, pointing to avoidable errors such as back-to-back false starts inside their own 10-yard line and complications in fundamental ball handling. “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” Slater said after the loss. “You’re never going to win like that. We need to fix that, or else you can’t win.”
Coaching has come under scrutiny as well. Slater admitted the team did not look fully prepared, a reflection on the coaching staff led by head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The coaching challenge has been to maximize a roster that includes strong offensive weapons and a franchise quarterback. Early indications suggest that the offensive schemes and execution are not aligning to produce effective results.
While the defense has given up 26 points to the Cardinals and 24 to the Raiders, it has also shown resilience. The unit faced a transition after losing defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to Baltimore, yet managed key stops—such as a goal-line stand against the Raiders following a turnover early in the Sunday game. Still, costly mistakes on special teams and turnovers have placed the defense in difficult positions.
Looking ahead, the Chargers face a daunting stretch of six games against five playoff teams from last season, including road games against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. The competitiveness of the AFC West, with the Broncos and Chiefs continuing to assert their dominance, adds to the pressure on Los Angeles.
Once considered a strong contender within the division, the Chargers now confront a reality where the momentum is slipping. Unless significant improvements occur quickly, they risk being viewed not only as a disappointment but potentially as one of the league’s weaker teams this season.