Chargers Fall 22-6 at Chiefs; Harbaugh Says Offense Will Be Re-examined After 0-6 Start
On Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, the Los Angeles Chargers lost 22-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs and fell to 0-6. Coach Jim Harbaugh said the organization will re-examine its offense during the upcoming bye week. Harbaugh acknowledged he did not expect to be addressing a winless start after six games.
Mike McDaniel’s offense produced a season-low six points in Kansas City and, through six games, ranks last in the NFL in expected points added per play at minus-0.190. The Chargers have averaged 15.0 points per game and have been hampered frequently by penalties and miscues. The defense has generally remained competitive, and special teams had its best outing of the season in Kansas City.
Harbaugh said, “The job I’m doing, it starts with me. The plan is to watch this and get with our offensive coaches.” He said the staff must evaluate how the team is playing and executing on offense. Harbaugh added he felt bad for the players, coaches and fans and said the issues need to be addressed.
The turning point in the second quarter came after Quentin Johnston caught a 57-yard pass to put the Chargers at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line. A holding penalty on rookie Jake Slaughter pushed the ball back to the 11, and a shovel pass for a 1-yard loss plus two incompletions forced a 30-yard field goal. Instead of cutting the deficit to 19-11, the Chargers remained down by double digits and did not get that close to the end zone for the rest of the game. Earlier, Los Angeles took three points on fourth-and-4 from the 5.
Offensive lineman Cole Strange called the missed opportunity “aggravating” and said the team should have put the ball in the end zone. Safety Tony Jefferson said he did not have many words and added that “0-6 just does not roll off the tongue very well.” The Chargers will not play next weekend as they head into their bye and are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 at SoFi Stadium, and they will not secure their first win of the season until at least Nov. 1.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Los Angeles enters the bye with a persistent offensive problem highlighted by the league-worst EPA per play, multiple red zone failures and a low scoring average through six games. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s pledge to “look at everything” places offensive playcalling and execution squarely under review during the break. The Chargers must convert red zone opportunities and reduce penalties and miscues to stop the skid when play resumes.