The Chargers Are 0–3—and Justin Herbert Is Running Out of Time to Save Their Season

The Los Angeles Chargers went to Buffalo needing a win and got the kind of defensive performance that should have delivered one. They forced five turnovers, intercepted Josh Allen twice and led in the fourth quarter. They still lost 24–16.

That is what makes this 0–3 start so troubling. The Chargers can point to mistakes they should be able to fix, but three weeks into the season, they have scored exactly 16 points in every game. Justin Herbert is too talented for this offense to keep producing the same disappointing result. If Los Angeles is going to recover, it has to start now.

Five takeaways should have been enough

The defense gave Los Angeles repeated chances to take control against Buffalo. Rookie safety Genesis Smith intercepted Allen twice in the first half. The Chargers also recovered three fumbles and held a Bills offense that had been explosive through two weeks to 10 points before halftime.

The offense turned its first two takeaways into a touchdown and a field goal. The next three produced zero points. One first-half opportunity ended with a missed field goal, while the Chargers failed to find the end zone at all after halftime. Buffalo stayed close, took its first lead in the fourth quarter and pulled away.

Herbert put the responsibility on himself afterward, and he should accept his share. He threw a fourth-quarter interception as Los Angeles tried to respond. But the larger issue is an offense that could not punish Buffalo for giving the ball away five times. A defense can create opportunities; it cannot turn every short field into a touchdown for the quarterback.

The same problems have appeared for three weeks

The Buffalo loss was frustrating because it looked different from the first two games—until the final score came in.

In the opener, Los Angeles lost 26–14 to Arizona. The Chargers got within two points in the third quarter, but a stalled possession, a blocked punt and a later Herbert interception helped the Cardinals put the game away. In Week 2, the Chargers briefly led Las Vegas in the second half before their offense stalled and the Raiders won 26–14.

Then came Buffalo: a better defensive effort, more chances for the offense and another 16-point afternoon. These losses have not followed one script. That makes it harder to blame a single bad play or one bad matchup. Los Angeles has struggled to finish drives, protect momentum and respond when the game turns against it.

Through three games, Herbert has 627 passing yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. The Chargers rank 28th in offensive EPA per play, according to figures cited by the team. Those numbers do not say Herbert alone is the problem. They do say that an offense led by Herbert and coordinated by Mike McDaniel is performing far below what Los Angeles needs.

Is this fixable, or is the roster the problem?

Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the Chargers have the right players at every position. He pointed instead to improvements in scheme, execution and communication. It is a reasonable position after three games, particularly when the defense just showed it can disrupt one of the AFC’s best offenses.

But confidence in the roster has to lead to production. If the Chargers have the players, McDaniel must find ways to generate more reliable scoring chances, and Herbert must make better decisions when those chances arrive. The missed opportunities against Buffalo were clear enough to measure: five takeaways, one touchdown, 16 total points.

There is still time. An 0–3 record does not end a season, and the defense’s performance in Buffalo offered a reason to believe the team can compete. But the Chargers no longer have room to treat close losses as signs of progress. They visit Seattle in Week 4, and another loss would make the climb steeper.

Herbert does not need to save the season by himself. He does need to lead an offense capable of scoring more than 16 points when its defense hands it five extra possessions. Until that changes, the Chargers’ problem is bigger than an unlucky 0–3 start.