After the Los Angeles Chargers' disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the regular season, the team is looking to bounce back in a major way and live up to the expectations set by many in the offseason. As the Chargers take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, one NFL insider ponders the uninspired start for the franchise in 2026.

If there is one aspect of Los Angeles that was supposed to excel this season, it's the offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, known for his offensive mind coming from the Miami Dolphins. After wide receiver Ladd McConkey went down with a rib injury, the Chargers fell apart, as ESPN's NFL insider Dan Graziano mentioned, asking a series of questions that could signal false promises by the team.

“McConkey is a great player, but the game plan falling apart completely once he exited makes it seem as if it was flimsy to begin with,” Graziano wrote. “Where are the smart, creative run plays Mike McDaniel was calling last season in Miami? Wasn't running back Omarion Hampton supposed to explode in this scheme? Wasn't the wide receiver group supposed to be deep with talent? Were the Chargers gaslighting us all summer? This was so far off our expectations for the Herbert-McDaniel pairing that you have to wonder whether L.A. took the Cardinals seriously enough.”

Was it all “hype” with the Chargers?

Still, it's only the first game of the season, but it does put pressure on the Chargers to handle business on Sunday against the Raiders. If they don't, Graziano would question if it was all “hype” with Los Angeles.

“The Chargers need to beat the Raiders this week and look good doing it, or we're going to wonder if it was all hype,” Graziano continued. “Being 0-2 and looking up at the 2-0 Raiders in the AFC West standings would not feel good for a team that had the preseason hopes the Chargers held.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen if the Chargers will live up to that hype on Sunday.