The Rest of Chargers’ Season Should Be About Building Chemistry

At this point, it is difficult to find many reasons for optimism with the Los Angeles Chargers. After falling to 0-5 following Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, the season is quickly slipping away. What once looked like a promising year has turned into a disaster, and the team is running out of time to figure things out.

With the playoffs looking like a long shot, it may be time for the Chargers to shift their focus. Rather than continuing to chase wins at all costs, the rest of the season should be about finding a spark on offense and building chemistry between Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

When the Chargers hired McDaniel, the hope was that his offensive creativity would finally help take Herbert’s game to another level. Instead, the two have struggled to find any consistency. Herbert has made uncharacteristic mistakes, the offense has struggled to move the ball and turnovers have repeatedly cost the team opportunities to win games.

Sunday’s loss was another example. The Chargers had a 17-10 lead in the second half and appeared to be in position to finally get their first win. Instead, the offense fell apart down the stretch, with Herbert fumbling and throwing another costly interception. Those mistakes cannot continue, but the Chargers need to figure out whether the problem is correctable within McDaniel’s system or if the fit simply isn’t right.

That is exactly what the remaining games should be used to determine.

The last thing the Chargers need is to enter next offseason without knowing whether Herbert and McDaniel can make this partnership work. If the team decides to move on from McDaniel after one season, Herbert will be forced to learn yet another offensive system. That kind of constant turnover is not ideal for a franchise quarterback who should be entering the prime of his career.

Of course, the Chargers cannot simply ignore how poorly the offense has played. McDaniel needs to be held accountable, and Herbert needs to take responsibility for his mistakes. But there is a difference between acknowledging that something isn’t working and immediately giving up on it.

The Chargers invested an entire offseason installing McDaniel’s offense. It was supposed to be a system that played to Herbert’s strengths, got the ball out quicker and created easier opportunities for the quarterback and his playmakers. Five games into the season, the results have been nowhere close to what anyone expected.

There is still time to make adjustments and see whether the offense can show signs of life. That could mean simplifying the playbook, finding ways to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers more consistently and taking some pressure off Herbert. It also means improving communication and getting the offensive line to provide more reliable protection.

The injuries to key receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston have certainly made things more difficult, but the Chargers cannot use injuries as an excuse for every problem. They need to find answers with the players available and build something they can carry into next season.

Nobody is suggesting the Chargers should stop trying to win games. There is value in competing, developing young players and establishing a better culture. But with an 0-5 record, the bigger picture has to matter.

The Chargers need to know whether Herbert and McDaniel can work together before making major decisions about the future of the offense. If they can find some chemistry over the next several weeks, there may still be a foundation worth building on. If they cannot, the organization will have a much clearer picture of what needs to change.

This season has been a major disappointment, but it can still serve a purpose. The Chargers owe it to Herbert to figure out what works, what doesn’t and whether this partnership has a future. Starting over with another offensive coordinator next season should be a last resort, not an automatic response to a disastrous start.