The Los Angeles Chargers were supposed to be one of the AFC’s best teams in 2026. Instead, they are the NFL’s only winless team at 0-8, heading to Baltimore for Monday Night Football with their season already in pieces.
How did a team coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons fall this far, this fast? Here is the full story of the Chargers’ collapse, the numbers behind it and what comes next for Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert.
Big expectations, big changes
The Chargers made the playoffs in each of Harbaugh’s first two seasons but did not win a postseason game, Fantasy Nerds noted in August, citing Yahoo Sports. To push past that ceiling, Harbaugh fired longtime friend Greg Roman, the only offensive coordinator he had used in the NFL, and hired former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, ESPN reported.
The move made Los Angeles a trendy pick. Yardbarker noted the Chargers entered the season as a dark-horse Super Bowl contender.
The slide, loss by loss
The trouble showed up early. By Week 3, the Chargers were 0-3 and had blown a 10-0 lead to Buffalo despite forcing five Bills turnovers, according to Sports Illustrated. Herbert took the blame after that loss, telling reporters it “starts with me,” per ESPN.
At 0-5, Harbaugh said he and team ownership were “in this fight together,” ESPN reported. A 22-6 loss to Kansas City then dropped the team to 0-6 heading into the bye, its worst start since 2000, according to FOX Sports. Harbaugh said afterward he would evaluate every part of the operation, including McDaniel.
It did not get better after the break. The Chargers lost 24-9 to the Rams, with Herbert throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns, Yardbarker reported. Then came Sunday’s 44-22 home loss to Houston, when C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes, according to CBS Sports.
The numbers behind 0-8
The offense is the biggest problem. The Chargers rank last in the NFL in scoring at 15.1 points per game, Yahoo Sports reported. Before Quentin Johnston’s 58-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against Houston, Los Angeles had gone 37 straight drives without a touchdown, the second-longest drought in NFL history, per CBS Sports.
Herbert is having the worst season of his career. He has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,591 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with a 70.4 passer rating, according to CBS Sports. He has thrown an interception in all eight games, The Sporting Tribune noted.
He is also taking a beating. Houston sacked him a career-high eight times on Sunday, the most for a Chargers quarterback in one game since Dan Fouts 50 years ago, per The Sporting Tribune. Herbert has been sacked 31 times this season, second-most in the league, CBS Sports reported.
Some former players have defended him. ESPN analyst Ryan Clark argued the problems run deeper than the quarterback and pointed at Harbaugh’s staff, Yahoo Sports reported.
Herbert also hurt the middle finger on his left hand against Houston, but X-rays were negative and Harbaugh said he should be good to go. Read our Herbert injury story.
Harbaugh’s strange history with 0-8
The 2026 slide has an odd personal connection for Harbaugh. The last time the Chargers started this badly was 2000, when they lost their first 11 games and finished 1-15, Yardbarker noted. Harbaugh was a Chargers quarterback that year and started five of those losses.
No sell-off at the deadline
Even at 0-7, the Chargers would not sell. They kept 35-year-old pass rusher Khalil Mack despite strong interest from the Bears, with Harbaugh saying, “I want Khalil Mack here.” Our Khalil Mack story has the details.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reported that Los Angeles turned down at least one inquiry on receiver Ladd McConkey. We covered the rest of the deadline in our look at every deal that almost happened.
Next up: Monday night in Baltimore
The Chargers visit the 4-5 Ravens on Monday Night Football. Baltimore is a 5.5-point favorite with a 38.5 total, according to CBS Sports.
The Ravens are struggling too. They have lost four straight and are starting Jacoby Brissett with Lamar Jackson sidelined. See our Lamar Jackson injury update.
For a team that has not won since last season, Monday may be the best chance yet to finally get in the win column. For more on the season so far, read our NFL midseason report, and see our Week 10 schedule for every kickoff.
Sources: CBS Sports (2), Yahoo Sports, The Sporting Tribune, FOX Sports, ESPN (2, 3, 4), SI, Yardbarker (2), Fantasy Nerds, Chicago Sun-Times
Join the conversation