The Chargers offense ranks 20th, and quarterback Justin Herbert has three touchdowns and four interceptions and his passer rating of 73.4 ranks 26th. Los Angeles has more turnovers (six) than touchdowns (five) as a team.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said he has not considered taking control from offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“No, we trust Mike. We believe in Mike,” Harbaugh said, via Austin Knoblauch of the Los Angeles Times.
It’s not like Harbaugh has any other option but to publicly give McDaniel a vote of confidence and hope the former Dolphins head coach can fix it.
Harbaugh hired McDaniel this offseason to add a dynamic element to the offense, which hasn’t happened yet.
While Harbaugh issued his first public criticism of Herbert, saying Monday that Herbert needs “to be better” in his decision-making, the head coach hasn’t done the same with McDaniel.
“We’re searching for every possible way to give ourselves an advantage,” Harbaugh said. “Every possible way to not beat ourselves.”
In his postgame comments, Herbert pushed back against the idea that McDaniel’s scheme is too complex.
“He’s definitely a guy that we need to lean on; he’s done such an incredible job,” Herbert said, via Jonah Bronstein of the Associated Press. “It’s on us as an offense to run the plays the way he sees them, listen to coaching, and do our job to make those plays. And we haven’t done that for him. So obviously, we feel horrible.”
Chargers Clips
The Vikings have scrapped the J.J. McCarthy experience after the 2024 first-round pick made only 10 starts in two-plus seasons.
That adds McCarthy to a short list of first-round quarterbacks who, for whatever reason, didn’t last very long with the teams that drafted them.
Via Kevin Seifert of ESPN, Elias Sports Bureau identifies only four first-round quarterbacks in the past 25 years who started 10 or fewer games for the team that picked them.
Paxton Lynch, the 2016 first-round pick of the Broncos, started only four games in Denver. He never played in a regular-season game for any other team.
Trey Lance, for whom the 49ers traded up in 2021 to make the third overall selection, started only four games in San Francisco. (He has since made eight appearances with two starts for the Cowboys and Chargers.)
Johnny Manziel, a first-round pick of the Browns in 2014, started eight games in Cleveland. He never played for another NFL team.
McCarthy had exactly 10 starts with the Vikings. He won six of them. But the Vikings have opted to take a fifth-round pick in order to move on from him.
While it’s far less than the first-round pick plus more that they gave up to get him, it’s more than what they would have gotten if he’d been cut before the start of the 2026 season. Which seemed to be a real possibility in late August, especially after he slipped to third on the depth chart.
Either way, the Vikings pulled the plug. And now they’ll have to hope that McCarthy doesn’t become the latest second-act (or third-act) quarterback who becomes a star for someone else.
Sure, the Vikings would never say it out loud. They don’t need to. They know that the only thing that will make their McCarthy misadventures worse will be watching him become for someone else what the Vikings hoped he would be.
The coach who not long ago said Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will be remembered as the best quarterback in NFL history wants him to be better.
Via Kris Rhim on ESPN, Jim Harbaugh offered a public critique of Herbert’s decision-making to date in 2026.
“Be better,” Harbaugh told reporters. “Be better. And that drives Justin, that drives me, that drives his position coach, that drives Mike [McDaniel], the [offensive] coordinator. I mean, drives us all.”
With three losses in three games, Harbaugh’s not wrong.
“We want to be better,” Harbaugh said. “We got to be better. We got to look at our scheme. We got to look at how we’re performing, how we’re doing things and who’s doing it.”
In Sunday’s loss to the Bills, which included a blown 10-0 lead, Herbert completed 20 of 34 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His passer rating for the season is a career-low (by far) 73.4. (Herbert’s full-season low point in passer rating is 93.2.)
Here’s a theory about the current issues in L.A. With all the talk about the Oscar Madison/Felix Unger vibe between Harbaugh and McDaniel, there has been little scrutiny of the relationship between Herbert and McDaniel.
McDaniel is verbose and quirky. Herbert is quiet and no-nonsense. It’s entirely possible that the personalities don’t mesh, and that this has kept them from working together the way they could.
As the Chargers stare at a possible 0-6 start (they play the Seahawks, Broncos, and Chiefs before a Week 7 bye), the situation bears watching. Something’s off for the Chargers’ offense, and the biggest difference is that the Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replaced him with McDaniel.
If you looked at the box score for Sunday’s game in Buffalo without checking the score first, you’d likely pick the Chargers as the team that wound up winning.
They had about the same number of yards on offense as the Bills, who committed five turnovers while being penalized 10 times for 88 yards. The Bills still wound up winning 24-16, however, and the Chargers are now 0-3 after entering the season as a popular choice to advance to the postseason.
After the game, several Chargers sent a message of keeping the faith and wide receiver Ladd McConkey underlined it with a pointed remark to those whose belief in the team has been shaken.
“If you’re not on board and you don’t think this can get turned around, then get out of here,” McConkey said, via the team’s website. “I feel like we got people to do it, we got all we need. We just have to go execute.”
That sounds like an easy enough solution, but actually watching the Chargers illustrates just how hard it is for the team to actually do it.
Josh Allen is a quarterback. When it comes to his nose for the end zone, he’s been performing like an elite running back.
Allen has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of Buffalo’s first three games of the 2026 season. No quarterback has ever done that.
Only three running backs in NFL history have ever done it.
Jim Brown did it in 1958. Stephen Davis did it in 1999. And Priest Holmes did it in 2003.
While Allen also had his first two turnovers of the year, he did enough to help the Bills dig out of a 10-0 hole (fueled by three total Bills turnovers in the first half) and move to 3-0, while sending the Chargers to 0-3.
It’s not often that a team can turn the ball over five times and win.
But that’s exactly what happened in Buffalo on Sunday, with the Bills coming from behind to defeat the Chargers 24-16.
Los Angeles was able to get off to a 10-0 lead after a fumble from James Cook on the first play from scrimmage and an interception on Buffalo’s third drive.
But the Bills were able to tie it up at 10-10 with Josh Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. Allen had set it up with a 37-yard pass to Keon Coleman with little time before the break.
The Bills had three turnovers in the first half. While they had two more fumbles in the second half, the Chargers punted after one and Justin Herbert threw an interception deep in the red zone on the second.
Josh Allen powered his way in for another 1-yard touchdown with 7:35 left in the contest to give the Bills their first lead of the day. Then James Cook was actually allowed to run in a touchdown, taking it in from 3 yards out to put the game away.
Aside from his fumble, Cook had an excellent day — rushing for 154 yards on 24 carries with his TD.
Allen finished 16-of-26 for 204 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. He had 22 yards on eight carries with two TDs.
On the other side, Herbert was 20-of-34 for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
That was Los Angeles’ lone giveaway of the game, but the +4 advantage in turnover margin was not enough.
With the victory, the Bills are now 3-0. They’ll stay at home to host the Patriots next Sunday.
The Chargers are 0-3 and staring down the barrel of a long season. They will be on the road to face the defending-champion Seahawks next Sunday.
The Bills had three first-half turnovers, but are still tied 10-10 with the Chargers at halftime.
Josh Allen powered his way into the end zone on a tush push late in the second quarter to tie the score.
Allen had connected with Keon Coleman for a 37-yard pass down to the 1-yard line that set up the score.
That helped erase some sloppy play from the Bills for much of the first half. James Cook fumbled on the first possession for a turnover. Then Josh Allen threw a pair of interceptions.
But the Chargers could only manage 10 points off of the turnovers, with Cameron Dicker missing a 45-yard field goal wide left after Allen’s interception.
Allen is 10-of-17 for 112 yards with a pair of picks. James Cook has 10 carries for 59 yards.
On the other side, Justin Herbert is 9-of-16 for 85 yards with a touchdown.
The Chargers will receive the second-half kickoff.
Bills wide receiver DJ Moore hurt his shoulder in a Week 2 win over the Lions, but he had more than a week to recover from the injury and that was enough time for him to get cleared for action.
Moore is active for the Bills as they try to move to 3-0 on the season at home against the 0-2 Chargers. The Bills will also get defensive tackle Ed Oliver back in the lineup. Oliver missed the Lions game after injuring his hip in pregame warmups and was listed as questionable along with Moore and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman is also active for Buffalo while backup quarterback Trey Lance is active for the Chargers. DJ Uiagalelei was summoned from the practice squad as insurance after Lance was listed as questionable, but there will be no change behind Justin Herbert.
Chargers at Bills
Chargers: S Elijah Molden, QB DJ Uiagalelei, OL Alex Harkey, G Kayode Awosika, TE Charlie Kolar, WR Brenen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Bills: WR Skyler Bell, OL Jude Bowry, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL T.J. Sanders, LB Mike Danna, S Jalon Kilgore
Panthers at Browns
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, WR Xavier Legette, S Nick Scott, LB Devin Lloyd, OT Albert Reese, DT Cam Jackson
Browns: CB Tyson Campbell, QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Jets at Lions
Jets: WR Adonai Mitchell, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, TE Mason Taylor, RB Kene Nwangwu, CB Nahshon Wright, K Blake Grupe, LB Kiko Mauigoa
Lions: G Ben Bartch, TE Tyler Conklin, S Bishop Fitzgerald, DL Ahmed Hassanein, LB Devin White, DL Mekhi Wingo
Texans at Colts
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, CB Collin Wright, WR Nico Collins, G Ed Ingram, DE Jadeveon Clowney, OL Nate Thomas
Colts: WR Ashton Dulin, WR Darius Slayton, DE George Gumbs, G Dailton Tucker, RB DJ Giddens, QB Riley Leonard
Patriots at Jaguars
Patriots: S Craig Woodson, LB Dre’Mont Jones, QB Behren Morton, OT Dametrious Crownover, TE Eli Raridon, DT Leonard Taylor
Jaguars: WR CJ Williams, S Jalen Huskey, LB Jack Kiser, OL Daniel Faalele, DE Wesley Williams, DT Albert Regis
Chiefs at Dolphins
Chiefs: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier, DB Chamarri Conner, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Josh Simmons, DE Tyreke Smith
Dolphins: QB Brady Cook, WR Caleb Douglas, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Marcellus Dial, OL DJ Campbell, DL Rob Beal Jr., OL Chukweubuka Godrick
Titans at Giants
Titans: OL Atonio Mafi, DL Jackie Marshall, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DB Jaylon Jones, RB Michael Carter
Giants: RB Devin Singletary, TE Thomas Fidone, OL J.C. Davis, DL Josh Tupou, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, CB Deonte Banks, S Tyler Nubin
Bengals at Steelers
Bengals: CB Josh Newton, C Connor Lew, OT Myles Hinton, TE Jack Endries, DT BJ Hill, DT Landon Robinson
Steelers: RB Rico Dowdle, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Joey Porter Jr., RB Eli Heidenreich, DT Kevin Jobity Jr., DT Gabriel Rubio
Seahawks at Commanders
Seahawks: S Julian Love, S Ty Okada, DT Brandon Pili, QB Jalen Milroe, WR Montorie Foster, CB Avery Smith, LB Connor O’Toole
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste, G Sam Cosmi, TE Chig Okonkwo
The NFL means plenty of things, from No Fun League to Not For Long. That’s never been more true for coaches.
Last year, 10 of 32 jobs became open. Whatever the number this time around, the number will be closer to nine than none.
Through two weeks, more than a few seats are getting hot. Or, as the case may be, hotter.
We’ll start with Colts coach Shane Steichen, mainly because of what team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said after the 2025 season ended: “We have been very clear with [G.M.] Chris [Ballard] and Shane that giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher.”
So far, the Colts are winless. The defense has given up more than 500 yards in each of the first two games. Obviously, something needs to change or there will be a housecleaning in Indianapolis.
Next on the list is Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. Since starting 2025 with a 6-2 record, the Buccaneers are 2-11. Imagine the angst in the Glazer suite last week while they had to sit there and wait two hours for the likely loss to the lowly Browns to become official. A turnaround is a must.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn wasn’t one-and-done after 2025, in part due to a buyout that would have exceeded $40 million. The season started with a suffocation of the Titans and former Jets coach Robert Saleh. In Week 2, a blown 10-point lead, widely-criticized late-game clock management, and a decision to receive the opening kickoff of overtime have increased the pressure on Glenn to do more this year than he did last year.
Things are looking grim for Dan Quinn in D.C. For some, it’s already become a given that Quinn will be gone after his third season — especially if it’s another 5-12 showing, or worse. The latest Jayden Daniels dislocated left elbow likely won’t buy Quinn a mulligan.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is facing an uprising in the land of beef and cheese. Yes, he got an extension after the 2025 season. But he wouldn’t be the first coach who received a new contract one offseason and a pink slip the next.
Lastly, we’ll mention Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. He made the playoffs in each of his first two years on the job. This year, however, has started in disastrous fashion. He has two years left on his five-year, $80 million contract after 2026; the buyout could buy him one more year. It all comes down to whether the Chargers play dramatically better than they did against two teams that combined in 2025 for a record of 6-28.
Any, some, or all of the coaches listed above could turn things around. After all, 15 games remain. And other coaches who are currently safe could end up in hot water as the season unfolds.
Either way, it makes sense to be watching the situation closely, because the NFL head-coaching industry has proven to be a high-turnover business. And, as former Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged once it became clear he was on the hot seat in 2025, it’s the business they’ve chosen.
The Herbert brothers could have a special moment today in Buffalo.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s little brother, tight end Patrick Herbert, has been elevated from the Chargers’ practice squad to the active roster. That means the Herberts are set to play together today against the Bills.
When the Chargers added Patrick to their practice squad just before the start of this season, it made the Herberts teammates for the first time since they were at Oregon in 2019. Patrick barely played as a true freshman that year, and Justin never threw him a pass.
The 25-year-old Patrick, who is three years younger than Justin, signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the season on their practice squad. He remained with the Jaguars throughout this offseason.
Patrick spent six seasons at Oregon, playing there from 2019 through 2024. As a freshman he got on the field for two games, while Justin was leading the Ducks to a 12-2 record that culminated in winning the Rose Bowl. During his college career, Patrick caught 31 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns.
If Justin throws a touchdown pass to Patrick, he’d do something the NFL hasn’t seen in almost a century. Via Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, the last time an NFL player threw a touchdown pass to his brother, it was Red Grange to Gardie Grange for the Chicago Bears against the Minneapolis Red Jackets on October 27, 1929. The only other brother-to-brother touchdown pass was Cobb Rooney to Bill Rooney for the Duluth Kelleys against the Kenosha Maroons on October 26, 1924.
