When Los Angeles Chargers fans first saw their team's 2026 regular season schedule, they had to like their chances of starting the campaign 2-0. Instead, the Chargers have opened the year with a pair of 26-14 home losses against the lowly Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, two teams that tied for the NFL's worst record during the 2025 season. Los Angeles has joined a very exclusive list by dropping its first two contests against Arizona and Las Vegas too with an ugly feat that hasn't been seen in 100 years.
The Cardinals and Raiders both finished the 2025 campaign at 3-14, tied with the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans for the worst mark in the NFL. The two cellar dwellers both brought in new head coaches in the offseason too with Mike LaFleur and Klint Kubiak, respectively. Most NFL experts expected Arizona and Las Vegas to be among the worst teams again this year, but the Cardinals are 1-1 and the Raiders went to 2-0 Sunday for the first time since 2021 following their Week 2 victory versus the Chargers.
LA, meanwhile, had back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2024 and 2025, returned two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert this fall and added former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as Jim Harbaugh's new offensive coordinator. Herbert had a rough Week 2 against Las Vegas though, finishing 15-for-27 with 192 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for a 59.5 passer rating. Herbert also committed three fumbles and was fortunate that the Chargers recovered each of them.
Los Angeles has been one of the league's biggest disappointments through two weeks and things aren't expected to get any easier over the next two months. The Chargers face the 2-0 Buffalo Bills and defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks (2-0) on the road in Week 3 and 4, respectively, before hosting the Denver Broncos (1-1) in Week 5 and traveling to play the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) in Week 6. Los Angeles has its bye in Week 7 before resuming play against the Los Angeles Rams (0-1), Houston Texans (0-2) and Baltimore Ravens (1-1) from Weeks 8-10.
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