Chargers 0-2 Start: Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert Face Early Questions

Los Angeles has opened the 2026 NFL season at 0-2, with an offensive struggles under coordinator Mike McDaniel drawing attention ahead of a difficult Week 3 matchup with Buffalo.

The Los Angeles Chargers have endured a difficult opening to the 2026 NFL season, losing their first two games by identical 26-14 scorelines. With Justin Herbert and the offense yet to find consistent production, questions are already emerging about the team’s new offensive system and Mike McDaniel’s role in shaping it.

Sports doctor Jesse Morse added to the discussion on social media after the Chargers’ Week 2 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders. Morse highlighted McDaniel’s presence on the Chargers’ coaching staff while commenting on the team’s 0-2 start.

His post was presented as a pointed reaction to the team’s early results rather than evidence that McDaniel alone is responsible for the Chargers’ struggles. Los Angeles has only played two games, and several factors can contribute to an offense’s performance during such a small sample.

Chargers Begin Season 0-2

The Chargers opened the campaign with a 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals before suffering the same scoreline against the Raiders in Week 2.

The identical results have made the offensive issues particularly noticeable. Los Angeles has scored only 14 points in each game, leaving the team searching for answers before the schedule becomes even more challenging.

The slow start is especially significant because the Chargers entered the season with expectations surrounding Herbert and a new offensive structure. McDaniel joined the organization during the offseason after spending the previous four seasons as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

His arrival created interest in how the Chargers would use their personnel and whether his offensive ideas could help maximize Herbert’s abilities.

Jesse Morse Questions the Situation Around McDaniel

After the Chargers dropped to 0-2, Morse posted a brief reaction on X, suggesting he had identified a potential problem and attaching an image of the Chargers’ staff page featuring McDaniel.

The comment quickly drew attention because of McDaniel’s prominent role in the team’s offensive operation. However, the post itself does not establish that McDaniel is the sole cause of the Chargers’ problems.

Offensive production is influenced by play-calling, execution, protection, quarterback decisions, receiver separation, turnovers and game situations. Two games are also a limited sample from which to judge an entire offensive system.

Still, McDaniel will naturally receive scrutiny because he is responsible for coordinating an offense that has managed only 28 total points through the first two games.

Mike McDaniel Returns to Offensive Coordinator Duties

McDaniel’s move to Los Angeles represents a return to the offensive coordinator role. Before becoming a head coach, he served as the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator in the 2021 season.

That San Francisco team finished 10-7 and reached the NFC Championship Game. McDaniel subsequently became the Dolphins’ head coach, where he spent four seasons before joining the Chargers.

His return to coordinating an offense with a quarterback of Herbert’s caliber generated significant interest during the offseason. Herbert has established himself as one of the league’s most prominent quarterbacks, making offensive consistency an important part of the Chargers’ ambitions.

The early results, however, have not matched those expectations.

Justin Herbert Has a Difficult Start

Herbert has recorded 401 passing yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions through the first two games of the season.

The numbers provide an important part of the explanation for the Chargers’ offensive struggles, but they do not tell the entire story. Quarterback production is closely connected to protection, route concepts, receiver performance and overall play-calling.

Three interceptions through two games have also limited opportunities for the offense. Los Angeles will need to reduce costly mistakes while finding ways to generate more consistent scoring opportunities.

Herbert’s role is particularly important because the Chargers rely heavily on his ability to create explosive plays and sustain drives. As the season progresses, his relationship with McDaniel’s offensive system will be one of the storylines worth monitoring.

Why the Chargers’ Offense Needs to Improve

Scoring 14 points in consecutive games puts significant pressure on the defense and special teams. Even a strong defensive performance can become difficult to sustain when the offense struggles to create points.

The Chargers’ early record also becomes more concerning because the AFC West includes several competitive teams. Los Angeles currently sits fourth in the division behind the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos.

A slow start does not determine the final standings, but falling behind divisional opponents can make the road to the postseason more demanding.

The Chargers therefore need to identify the reasons behind their offensive inconsistency quickly. Whether the solution involves changes to play selection, execution, protection or personnel usage, the offense needs to produce more consistently.

McDaniel’s Offensive Reputation Faces an Early Test

McDaniel has developed a reputation for designing creative offensive systems, which makes his first two games with Los Angeles particularly interesting.

The Chargers did not bring him in simply to maintain the status quo. His appointment represented an attempt to build an offensive approach capable of taking advantage of Herbert’s skill set and helping the team compete in the AFC.

That process may require time. A new coordinator must establish terminology, timing and responsibilities across the offense, while players must become comfortable with the system.

At the same time, the NFL operates on a week-to-week schedule, meaning coaching staffs have limited time to correct problems before facing their next opponent.

The challenge for McDaniel will be determining which problems are structural and which are simply early-season execution issues.

Chargers Face a Major Week 3 Challenge

Los Angeles will attempt to earn its first victory of the season against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.

The Chargers will travel to Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Josh Allen and the Bills. The game represents a difficult test for a team still searching for offensive consistency.

What the Chargers Need From Justin Herbert

Herbert’s ability to respond will be central to Los Angeles’ effort to reverse its start. Through two games, his three interceptions have outweighed his two touchdown passes, while the team has struggled to reach the end zone consistently.

A more efficient passing performance would give the Chargers a better chance of controlling games and reducing pressure on the defense.

That does not mean every offensive issue falls on Herbert. The quarterback needs a functioning system around him, and the coaching staff will also be responsible for putting players in situations that suit their strengths.

The Week 3 matchup should therefore offer a useful early test of whether the Chargers can make meaningful adjustments.

Could the 0-2 Record Become a Larger Problem?

It is too early to determine how the Chargers’ season will unfold. Teams have recovered from poor starts before, and two games represent only a small portion of a 17-game regular season.

However, the repeated offensive output is something the Chargers cannot ignore. Scoring exactly 14 points in each of the first two games indicates that the offense has yet to establish a reliable rhythm.

The upcoming schedule will also provide stronger tests. Buffalo presents a significant challenge, and Los Angeles will need to demonstrate that its offensive problems can be corrected rather than repeated.

The most important development may therefore be how the Chargers respond rather than the fact that they are currently 0-2.

McDaniel and Chargers Staff Have Time to Make Adjustments

Despite the criticism surrounding the early results, McDaniel and the Chargers’ coaching staff still have an opportunity to correct the offense.

Potential improvements could come from better execution, more efficient passing concepts, improved protection and a more consistent running game. The coaching staff will also have to evaluate how opposing defenses have attacked the new system.

For Herbert, building timing and confidence within McDaniel’s offense will be equally important. A few successful drives could change the tone around the unit quickly, particularly if the quarterback can limit turnovers.

The Chargers therefore enter Week 3 with clear areas to address but also enough time remaining in the season to change their trajectory.

Final Verdict

The Chargers’ 0-2 start has naturally placed attention on Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert after the offense produced only 28 points across the opening two games. Jesse Morse’s social-media post added another layer to the discussion by highlighting McDaniel after the Week 2 defeat.

However, the available evidence after two games does not establish that one individual is responsible for the team’s problems. Herbert has thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions, while the Chargers have scored 14 points in each loss. Those figures show an offense that needs improvement, but more games will be required to determine the underlying causes.

The next test comes against the Buffalo Bills on September 27. How Herbert and the Chargers’ offense respond in that matchup should provide a clearer indication of whether the early struggles are temporary issues or signs of deeper problems within the new offensive system.