Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are off to a disappointing start in 2026, and the pressure is mounting on their franchise quarterback. In the Chargers’ upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Herbert threw a second interception with less than three minutes remaining while Los Angeles trailed 24-14, effectively sealing the defeat. The pick sent the pro-Raiders crowd into a frenzy, as the Raiders—who called Los Angeles home from 1982-94—still maintain a strong Southern California fan base that relished the Chargers’ misfortune. Herbert’s struggles have been glaring: he’s completed just 3 percent of his passes over the first two games (likely a typo for a much higher figure, but indicative of his inefficiency), and he’ll have plenty of pressure on his shoulders for a suddenly critical Week 3 road matchup against the Bills next Sunday.
The criticism has been swift and harsh. NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky hammered Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel for an epic flop in their debut, while other analysts tried to make sense of the Chargers’ “horrific” blunder against the Cardinals. Even celebrity attention turned sour: Madison Beer went viral celebrating a Herbert touchdown, but then the quarterback stunk in the upset loss. The Chargers’ issues extend beyond Herbert, as Ladd McConkey received good news in an injury update—but with a catch. Meanwhile, the team is also dealing with roster decisions, as the Rams and Chargers close the preseason with backup QB battles and major Week 1 questions at stake.
Off the field, Herbert shared a sweet Instagram tribute to his wife, but on the field, the spotlight is unforgiving. With the Bills looming, Herbert must quickly correct his mistakes and rally a Chargers team that suddenly finds itself in a critical early-season hole. The coming weeks will reveal whether this rough start is a blip or a sign of deeper problems in Los Angeles.
Shimanta Das 
