The Chargers have Justin Herbert and several talented pieces, but their 0-3 start has exposed a bigger problem: they may simply lack the overall talent needed to compete at a high level. Turning the season around will require much more than better quarterback play.
At 0-3, it is fair to start asking whether the Los Angeles Chargers actually have the talent to turn this season around.
There is still plenty of football left to play, but the first three weeks have exposed some serious problems. The Chargers have Justin Herbert, a quarterback capable of carrying a team when things are clicking. They also have some talented players around him. But when you look at the roster as a whole, it is becoming harder to ignore the possibility that this team simply does not have enough overall talent.
Sunday’s loss to the Bills was a perfect example.
The Chargers defense forced five turnovers, including four in the first half, and still couldn’t get the team a win. That is extremely difficult to overcome. Buffalo gave the Chargers opportunity after opportunity, yet the offense could only produce 16 points.
That is where the bigger concern comes in.
Herbert has not played well enough. Through three games, he has completed just 59.1 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions. His passer rating sits at 73.4. Those numbers have to improve if the Chargers are going to turn things around.
But Herbert isn’t the only problem.
The offensive line has been a mess. Injuries have forced the Chargers to constantly shuffle things around, and Tyler Biadasz is on injured reserve and even depth pieces such as Trey Pipkins are banged up. David Njoku is on IR as well, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith has also landed on injured reserve.
That makes it difficult to build any consistency, but injuries aren’t the only concern. There are legitimate questions about the talent level at several positions.
The Chargers have some very good players. Herbert is one. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have the ability to be excellent tackles. Derwin James remains a difference-maker on defense. Ladd McConkey is a talented receiver. Omarion Hampton has shown flashes of what he can become, and the defense showed against Buffalo that there are some young players capable of making plays.
But a few good players aren’t enough in the NFL.
The Chargers need more depth. They need more reliable offensive weapons. They need more consistency along the offensive line. They need players who can win individual matchups when the scheme breaks down.
That was one of the biggest differences against Buffalo. The Bills turned five turnovers into a win because they had enough playmakers to overcome their mistakes. The Chargers had the same opportunities but couldn’t capitalize.
And that’s probably the biggest question facing this team.
Can the Chargers fix their execution, stay healthy and get enough out of the roster around Herbert to make a run?
They absolutely can play better than they have. Going 0-3 doesn’t mean the season is over. But turning this around is going to require more than Herbert simply playing better.
The Chargers need their best players to play like their best players, their young players to develop quickly and the rest of the roster to prove it belongs.
Right now, that’s the biggest question.
The Chargers have the quarterback. They have some nice pieces. What they haven’t shown yet is that they have enough of them.
