Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) looks on in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Chargers are officially in dangerous territory after falling to 0-5 with Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. The NFL schedule now presents an enormous challenge, as Los Angeles will face the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens over its next four games. Three of those four games are on the road, and a 0-9 start is becoming a very realistic possibility.
🚨🚨#Chargers Justin Herbert is 0-5 With the opponents coming predicted to be 0-9 https://t.co/WRwpU5W2Fv
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) October 12, 2026
A 0-9 record would almost certainly force the Chargers to make significant changes, and the pressure would be squarely on head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Los Angeles entered the season with legitimate expectations, but the team has quickly fallen apart and now has one of the worst records in the NFL.
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Chargers face brutal four-game stretch
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Chargers’ next four opponents could hardly provide a more difficult path toward their first victory. Los Angeles travels to face the undefeated Chiefs in Week 6 before its bye week. After the bye, the Chargers travel to face the Rams before returning home to host the Texans. They then travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens in Week 10.
The Chiefs are currently 4-0, while the Rams and Ravens are both expected to be difficult postseason contenders. Even Houston, despite entering Week 6 at 1-4, should not be viewed as an easy opportunity.
The Texans just made one of the biggest moves of the season by acquiring wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals. Houston sent a 2027 second-round pick and a sixth-round pick to Arizona for Harrison and a seventh-rounder, giving C.J. Stroud another major weapon for the remainder of the season.
Houston also could easily have a better record than 1-4. A couple of plays going differently could have completely changed the Texans’ season to this point, making the Week 9 matchup much more dangerous for Los Angeles than the current records suggest.
0-9 could mean major changes in Los Angeles
NFL: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers
Sep 13, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel on the sidelines during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Chargers are already facing serious questions after starting 0-5. Sunday’s loss to Denver dropped them to 0-5 for the first time since 2003, and the team has now lost five consecutive games despite entering the season with playoff expectations.
The biggest concern has been the offense. McDaniel was hired to bring a new identity and spark to an offense built around Justin Herbert, but Los Angeles has struggled to consistently move the football. McDaniel was already facing questions about his job after the Chargers started 0-4, with the offense ranking 29th in scoring at 16.8 points per game at that point.
Harbaugh is also going to face increasing pressure if the losing continues. He has already said the team intends to stay the course, but a 0-9 record would make that position increasingly difficult to defend.
There is still time for the Chargers to change their season, but the schedule makes the situation extremely dangerous. If Los Angeles cannot find a way to steal a victory from Kansas City, the Rams, Texans or Ravens, the Chargers could enter Week 11 at 0-9 — and at that point, major changes would be difficult to avoid.
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