The Los Angeles Chargers are surprisingly and suddenly staring at an 0-2 record. They have absorbed back-to-back 26-14 losses. That's before a brutal stretch of schedule that begins in Buffalo next week. It is enough to make the panic alarms understandable. That said, calling for the breakup of Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert after two games would be confusing an ugly start with a broken foundation.
The Chargers have committed too many self-inflicted errors and repeatedly failed in critical moments. However, those are problems to solve. Those do not prove that the franchise's central pairing has failed. Herbert remains a quarterback with elite physical ability. Harbaugh remains the coach entrusted with rebuilding the organization's culture. The real question is whether they can correct the operational mess before the season slips away.
Another collapse
Trailing 10-7 at halftime, Los Angeles briefly flashed electrifying potential. Herbert connected with Tre' Harris for a 53-yard gain. That set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II, which put the Chargers ahead 14-10. That lead lasted only minutes, though. Las Vegas answered with a touchdown. The Raiders pulled away in the fourth quarter as mistakes overwhelmed Los Angeles. Herbert threw two interceptions, both to defensive back Hezekiah Masses. Omarion Hampton's late fumble gave the Raiders excellent field position. Las Vegas ultimately won 26-14. Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, and the Chargers committing six fumbles overall. A late holding penalty in the end zone produced a safety that effectively ended the contest.
The loss was not simply about Herbert, of course. The Chargers generated 310 total yards and possessed the ball for more than 32 minutes. Sadly, they still found ways to lose. Execution repeatedly collapsed when opportunities appeared.
Absurdity of abandoning ship
There is a legitimate case for concern about Herbert's start. Through two games, the Chargers' passing game has lacked the consistency expected from their star quarterback. The transition to Mike McDaniel's offense clearly has not been seamless. McDaniel is now Herbert's fourth offensive coordinator in seven NFL seasons.
Now, that is precisely why patience remains relevant. McDaniel's system asks quarterbacks and receivers to operate with precise timing, motion, and spatial awareness. Those concepts require repetition. They look spectacular when everyone is synchronized and disjointed when even one player misses an assignment. The Chargers are still building that operational chemistry.
Herbert's talent has not suddenly disappeared. Against Las Vegas, he completed 26 of 39 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. That was despite the interceptions and inconsistent protection. His 53-yard completion to Harris showed the arm strength remains capable of producing explosive plays. Two games are just not enough evidence to conclude that Herbert cannot thrive in McDaniel's offense.
Blueprint demands patience
The same principle applies to Harbaugh. His first two seasons in Los Angeles produced consecutive playoff appearances. Yes, that's even though the Chargers have yet to win a postseason game under him. Now the team has suffered its first 0-2 start of his tenure. The immediate reaction is naturally harsher because the first two games were supposed to be the more manageable portion of the schedule. Instead, the Chargers lost to Arizona and Las Vegas at home by identical score lines.
However, the roster construction also explains some of the turbulence. The offensive line has undergone changes. The Chargers were already dealing with personnel uncertainty heading into Week 2. The team was without safety Elijah Molden. Kayode Awosika was being asked to settle into the left guard role. Those disruptions matter. So does the absence of Ladd McConkey, who was battling a cracked rib and was pushing to play against Las Vegas. The Chargers are not operating at full strength, and the offense is simultaneously learning a new system.
Unforgiving schedule
The problem is that Los Angeles has run out of time for excuses. Buffalo is next. The Bills are already 2-0 after scoring 77 points in their first two games. After that comes a road trip to Seattle before meetings with Denver, Kansas City, and the Rams.
An 0-3 start would dramatically increase the pressure around Harbaugh and Herbert. That would be a reasonable development. It would also make the next few weeks an important evaluation period rather than an automatic trigger for organizational upheaval.
The Chargers need to discover whether their mistakes are correctable. They need cleaner protection, fewer penalties, better situational play-calling, and greater consistency from Herbert and his supporting cast. Most importantly, they need to stop beating themselves.
Chargers need answers
The temptation to separate Harbaugh and Herbert after an 0-2 start is understandable. That said, the evidence currently points toward a team struggling with execution and transition rather than a pairing that has definitively failed. Harbaugh and Herbert were brought together to provide long-term stability. Two ugly September losses do not erase the reasons that decision was made.