The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a rocky start under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose tenure has so far failed to deliver the offensive spark fans hoped for after the dismissal of Greg Roman. Following last season’s disappointing wild-card playoff loss to the New England Patriots that saw the Chargers score just three points, Roman was replaced by McDaniel, a former Miami Dolphins head coach known for his offensive acumen under San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.

However, through the first two games of the 2023 NFL season, the Chargers have struggled to gain traction offensively. Both contests ended in identical 26-14 losses—first to the Arizona Cardinals, then to the Las Vegas Raiders—teams that each posted just three wins last season. The team’s performance on Sunday, in particular, reflected a disjointed and error-prone offense, highlighted by six fumbles, multiple penalties, and protection breakdowns that contributed to a safety. Star left tackle Joe Alt was flagged four times, including a holding penalty that led directly to the safety.

This slow start is especially concerning given the challenging schedule ahead, which includes matchups against the Buffalo Bills, reigning Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Los Angeles Rams, who were preseason Super Bowl favorites. After back-to-back 11-win seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers now face the prospect of starting 0-4—something Harbaugh himself had never experienced, having previously never lost to the Raiders and not starting consecutive seasons with losses.

Much of the early offensive woes have centered on quarterback Justin Herbert, who is adjusting to McDaniel’s system. Herbert, who has now had five offensive coordinators in seven NFL seasons and three coordinators during his collegiate career at Oregon, has thrown for a combined 401 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in the first two games. One of the interceptions occurred on a contested pass that bounced off a receiver’s hands. The offense has also struggled to consistently create separation at the wide receiver position, with Ladd McConkey standing out as one of the few reliable targets.

McDaniel, known as a cerebral offensive strategist, faces the challenge of simplifying his scheme and reducing mistakes amid the limited time for players to fully acclimate. Herbert expressed frustration after Sunday’s loss, indicating he had not yet been able to discuss the game with McDaniel. Harbaugh emphasized a comprehensive approach to addressing the team’s issues, stating, “I’m not looking in any one direction. I’m looking at it all.”

While expectations were high when McDaniel was hired in January, with hopes that his perceived partnership with Herbert would ignite the offense, the Chargers must make swift adjustments to avoid falling further behind in a highly competitive AFC West. A recovery in offensive productivity and a reduction in turnovers will be essential if the team hopes to overcome an 0-2 start and remain contenders for the postseason.