The Los Angeles Chargers’ playoff hopes are all but gone. After a bye week that many hoped would give the team time to regroup and finally get the season on track, the Chargers suffered another setback, losing 24-9 to the Los Angeles Rams. The defeat dropped them to 0-7, their worst start to a season since 2000.

Naturally, the focus has shifted to the coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Fans and analysts are questioning whether he is the right man to get the Chargers out of this mess.

NFL Community Reacts to Chargers’ Winless Start Under Mike McDaniel

McDaniel’s arrival ahead of the 2026 season was expected to take Justin Herbert’s game to the next level and give the Chargers’ offense a much-needed boost. So far, neither has happened.

Los Angeles ranks dead last in the NFL with a PFN Offense Impact Score of 61.1. Herbert hasn’t fared much better, sitting at No. 34 with a PFN QB Impact Score of 60.8. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 257 yards against the Rams, but his two interceptions led directly to 10 points for the opponents, making an already difficult afternoon even harder for the Chargers.

Before the game, Jim Harbaugh reiterated that McDaniel would remain the team’s primary play-caller. But another loss has done little to quiet calls for changes.

“The Chargers fall to 0-7. Teams will continue calling the Bolts for their available players. Seat only gets hotter for OC Mike McDaniel,” Jonathan Jones of The Athletic wrote.

Meanwhile, former Chargers defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko suggested that Herbert may have grown frustrated with McDaniel.

“I have a theory. Justin Herbert is fed up with Mike McDaniel and trying to get him fired,” Fehoko wrote.

“The Guilty As Charged Podcast” page called for immediate changes, saying, “There is absolutely zero reason for the Chargers not to make changes tomorrow. Sell off any pieces you can and fire the OC.”

NFL analyst Alex Insdorf also questioned whether McDaniel should remain in charge after another disappointing outing.

“There are a lot of things wrong with the offense, and you’re not gonna win most games with those Herbert turnovers. But I’m just failing to see what the point of keeping McDaniel is if this is the on-field production after the BYE week,” Insdorf wrote.

NFL writer Rob Maaddi pointed to Herbert’s troubling touchdown-to-interception ratio under McDaniel.

“Chargers: 0-7. Justin Herbert has 5 TDs and 10 INTs in Mike McDaniel’s offense. Wow,” Maaddi wrote.

Analyst Mason Dodd suggested the Chargers may need to make a major decision involving their coaching staff or quarterback. “Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel. Someone has to be fired or benched. You can’t keep putting this on the field,” Dodd wrote.

The Chargers will return to SoFi Stadium in Week 9 to host the Houston Texans, looking to finally get their first win of the season.