The Mike McDaniel-Justin Herbert partnership looked dangerous early in Sunday's season opener. Then the Arizona Cardinals adjusted, and everything fell apart.

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky believes Herbert's inability to consistently work through his progressions was a major reason why.

"Justin Herbert got locked onto receivers far too often..

There was way too much pistol and way too much gun" ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/mepLrgzEOT

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 14, 2026

“Way too much pistol, way too much gun,” Orlovsky said on The Pat McAfee Show Monday. “Justin got locked onto receivers far too often, meaning, I am only throwing to this guy, instead of getting to his second or third read. That is what happens in the McDaniel system. They can become so convicted because they think the play call is so good and it worked all eight times you repped it in practice.”

Orlovsky explained that McDaniel's system can almost become a victim of its own success. When a play repeatedly works in practice, quarterbacks can become so confident in the design that they expect the primary option to be available.

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That appeared to work against Arizona early. Herbert opened the game sharp, and Los Angeles scored on its opening possession, but the Cardinals adjusted and increasingly took away those initial options. That's when the problems started.

Herbert finished 17-of-27 for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception while taking three sacks. The Chargers managed only 14 points and were shut out in both the second and fourth quarters. A lost fumble by Omarion Hampton and a turnover on downs inside the five-yard line took points off the board for the Chargers.

Arizona also controlled possession for long stretches, limiting Herbert's opportunities and putting even more pressure on Los Angeles to capitalize when it had the football.

The Chargers spent the offseason building an offense designed to maximize Herbert's talent. It's only one game in McDaniel's new system, so there's little reason to panic in that aspect. But Orlovsky identified something Herbert and McDaniel will need to correct quickly.

The Bolts' schedule is a gauntlet. There is a solid chance that Herbert and McDaniel miss out on the postseason altogether if they don't figure things out quickly on both sides of the ball.