The Los Angeles Chargers are past the point where moral victories count. Jim Harbaugh brought them back to the postseason for two straight years. That’s real progress. But the NFL doesn’t hand out participation trophies for making the Wild Card round. Not when you lose 16-3 at home to the New England Patriots in a game where the offense looked like it forgot how to function.
That loss in January stung. It led to real changes. Harbaugh turned the offensive keys over to Mike McDaniel. The roster got a few important upgrades. And now the Chargers walk into 2026 with the kind of expectations that can either make or break a season.
Herbert Needs a System That Fits Him
Justin Herbert can throw through a brick wall. That’s never been the question. The problem is the Chargers have spent years running an offense that asks him to win despite the structure, not because of it. McDaniel’s approach should fix that. He loves pre-snap motion. He schemes receivers open over the middle. He forces defenses to guess before the snap, which is exactly where Herbert’s brain and arm can punish people.
McDaniel has real toys to play with. David Njoku gives them a tight end who can actually separate. Oronde Gadsden II is a matchup problem for linebackers. And the wide receiver group finally has some variety. Quentin Johnston brings size on the outside. Ladd McConkey works the intermediate routes like a veteran. The pieces are there.
The key is timing. Herbert has to hit those rhythm throws without hesitating. McDaniel’s whole system falls apart if the quarterback holds the ball an extra beat. If Herbert buys in early, this offense could go from plodding to scary fast.
The Interior Line Has to Hold Up
Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are great bookends. Problem is, the middle of the line got Herbert killed last year. Pressure up the gut ruins everything. You can’t step into throws. You can’t trust the pocket. The whole passing game gets shaky.
Joe Hortiz went out and got Tyler Biadasz to play center. That should help. It should also make guys like Cole Strange and Jake Slaughter better just by having a steady presence next to them. A clean pocket means Herbert can take his time. It also opens up the run game for Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell. Those two have different styles but neither will do much if the interior gets pushed backward.
McDaniel’s play-action fakes only work if the defense respects the run. That starts inside.
The Defense Needs to Close
This defense was legit last year. Physical. Disciplined. Ranked near the top of the league in most categories. But the moments that matter most kept slipping away. One stop in the fourth quarter against a good team. One turnover to swing a playoff game. That’s the difference between a February run and an early flight home.
Derwin James Jr. is still the heartbeat of the unit. Khalil Mack is still producing. Tuli Tuipulotu keeps getting better. The secondary has depth with Tarheeb Still and Donte Jackson. The real question might be at linebacker. Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman have to stay on the field. If they start missing assignments, the whole thing gets leaky.
This defense has to close games the way it starts them. If it does, McDaniel’s offense gets more chances and shorter fields. That’s the formula.
The AFC West isn’t getting any easier. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs. But the Chargers have the quarterback, the coach, and enough talent to stop saying “next year.” Now they just have to prove it.
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