Clearly, after the Chargers dropped a 22-6 decision to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and fell to 0-6, it feels like it’s time for a divorce. The marriage between quarterback Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is broken and no one knows how to fix it.
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Six games is no longer a small sample size, and while Herbert remains a remarkable talent and McDaniel has his strengths as a football mind, their relationship looks like it’s reached its inevitable conclusion. Something has been amiss since a Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
“I don’t know,” Herbert said when asked why things haven’t worked out, why the Chargers haven’t scored in four of six fourth quarters this season and have been outscored 49-13 in the final periods overall. “If I had the answers then we’d definitely be having a different conversation.”
Here’s more of what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after the Chargers’ latest offensive meltdown:
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Herbert doesn’t look comfortable and the raw numbers tell the tale. His statistics are down in every category but one: interceptions. He has thrown eight, at least one in each of the Chargers’ six games this season. Recall that Herbert threw only three picks in the 2024 regular season.
Sometimes – more times than not, it seems – it looks like Herbert is the square peg being hammered into the round hole that is McDaniel’s offense. It’s not a good fit.
Some of Herbert’s failings can be attributed to the injuries on the offensive line. Starting four rookies, including second-round draft pick Jake Slaughter at center, is suboptimal under any circumstances no matter how talented or experienced at the collegiate level they might be.
Herbert was sacked four times Sunday, kneed in the head on a scramble and hit numerous times on his drop-backs. McDaniel’s plan going into the season to get the ball into and out of Herbert’s hands in 2.5 seconds or less was a great idea, but the pass-rushers are in his face quickly. He’s been sacked 21 times, the second-highest total in the league through six weeks.
The “I’ve got to be better” mantra shared by Herbert and McDaniel through the season’s first six weeks is admirable. For example, Herbert continues to show remarkable toughness, as witnessed by popping to his feet after the Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed’s knee to the noggin in the first quarter.
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Running, dodging pass rushers while trying to make a pinpoint pass hasn’t worked for Herbert. His second-quarter interception, another poor decision while under duress and on the move and with defenders in front of and behind a marginally open wide receiver, was another example.
Despite all that’s happened, Herbert remains optimistic.
“We have a lot of guys that care,” he said after completing 22 of 37 passes for 204 yards with one interception and zero touchdowns against the Chiefs. “All those guys in the locker room care about each other and this team. We have the right guys. It hasn’t gone our way, but they are going to show up and give their best effort. That is all you can ask for.”
DECISIONS (PART 2)
So what changes could the Chargers make during their bye week?
General Manager Joe Hortiz could ask Coach Jim Harbaugh to take away McDaniel’s play-calling duties. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton didn’t like what he witnessed in their first four games and took away the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Did it work?
The Broncos defeated the Chargers in Week 5 then beat the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Week 6 to improve to 4-2, second behind the AFC West-leading Chiefs (5-0). The Broncos still have offensive issues, but Payton changed the narrative in no uncertain terms.
Harbaugh said “everything” was under consideration as the Chargers entered their bye week, with an opportunity to sort out what’s gone haywire offensively and determine what comes next. He didn’t discount taking away McDaniel’s play-calling role starting in Week 8 against the Rams.
“I feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans,” Harbaugh said after Sunday’s loss, their ninth in a row dating to last season. “The offense needs to be addressed. We have to address everything and, especially, offensively. We’re not scoring enough points.”
WHAT COMES NEXT?
After their bye, and a good many meetings and practices during the week, the Chargers face the Rams as the road team on Sunday, Nov. 1 at SoFi Stadium. Their run of difficult opponents continues when they play host to the surging Houston Texans on Nov. 8 and then hit the road to face their former defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, and the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16.
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