Chargers fall to 0-8 after embarrassing loss to Texans

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers have officially reached rock bottom.

Eight games into the season, the Chargers are still searching for their first victory, and Sunday's 44-22 demolition at the hands of the Houston Texans offered another painful reminder of just how far this franchise has fallen.

For a team that entered the season with legitimate expectations, the current reality is almost impossible to comprehend. The Chargers are no longer simply struggling to meet expectations. They are playing like one of the worst teams in football, and potentially one of the worst teams in franchise history.

At the center of the disaster is Justin Herbert.

Darwin Walker – The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert (10) drops back in the pocket during an NFL football game against The Houston Texans on November 8th, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Herbert endured an afternoon he would undoubtedly like to forget, getting battered behind a collapsing offensive line while struggling to generate anything meaningful through the air. Herbert finished 13-of-23 for 193 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was also sacked a career-high eight times.

Eight sacks.

It was the most times a Chargers quarterback had been taken down in a single game since Dan Fouts suffered the same fate 50 years ago.

For a quarterback who has spent much of his career being viewed as one of the most talented players at his position, Sunday's performance was an embarrassing chapter in an increasingly disastrous season.

And the numbers are becoming difficult to ignore.

Justin Herbert is making NFL history for all the wrong reasons

Herbert has thrown an interception in every game this season, extending his streak to eight consecutive games.

He is the first quarterback since 2000 to lose each of his team's first eight games while throwing an interception in every one of them.

The interception streak is particularly concerning considering the Chargers' inability to find consistency offensively. Herbert has been forced into difficult situations, but the turnovers, missed opportunities and inability to sustain drives have become a recurring theme.

The most alarming statistic from Sunday's loss, however, might have nothing to do with the interception.

The Chargers went 37 consecutive offensive drives without scoring a touchdown.

Thirty-seven.

The drought finally ended in the fourth quarter when Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston on a long touchdown pass, making the score 38-15. It was Johnston's first touchdown of the season and just his 13th reception of the year.

The reaction from the locker room said everything.

Tight end Charlie Kolar was apparently unaware of just how bad the offensive drought had become.

"37!?" Kolar said. "I wish you never told me that."

Herbert acknowledged the struggles after the game but didn't have much of an explanation for the extended drought.

"We just weren't making plays," Herbert said.

That has been the story of the Chargers' season.

Eight sacks and an injury add to Herbert's miserable afternoon

The offensive line did Herbert absolutely no favors against Houston.

The Texans consistently pressured Herbert, collapsing the pocket and making it nearly impossible for the Chargers to establish any offensive rhythm.

Herbert was sacked eight times before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his left hand.

Herbert entered the medical tent after injuring his ring finger, with backup DJ Uiagalelei preparing to take over.

Harbaugh confirmed that the decision to remove Herbert was his,despite the Herbert wanting to return.

"Justin wanted to go back in the game," Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh also acknowledged that the injury could be more serious than initially hoped.

"Could be a fracture. We'll find out."

Herbert, meanwhile, attempted to downplay the situation.

"We will probably take a look at it but it shouldn't be an issue," Herbert said.

"I'll do whatever I can to make sure I'm 100%."

The injury is another concern for a Chargers team that can hardly afford another setback. Still, Herbert's availability isn't the only issue that needs addressing.

The protection has been unacceptable,and Harbaugh knows it.

"Too many times," Harbaugh said when asked about the eight sacks. "Making adjustments, make adjustments at halftime. We'll continue to do everything in our power to keep him protected."

Herbert also took responsibility for some of the sacks, acknowledging that he needs to make better decisions when plays break down.

"Understanding that throwing the ball away is better than a sack, so that's something that I could've done better," Herbert said.

The Chargers also benched starting right guard Cole Strange during the game, and Harbaugh acknowledged there is a possibility of another player taking over the position moving forward.

Clearly, the offensive line is nowhere near where it needs to be.

The excuses are running out in Los Angeles

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this Chargers season is that the messaging hasn't changed.

Stay together. Keep fighting. Watch the film. Fix the mistakes.

Those have been the recurring talking points following one disappointing loss after another.

But at some point, the message needs to translate into results.

The Chargers have now lost eight consecutive games, and the gap between what this team believes it can accomplish and what it actually puts on the field continues to grow.

Harbaugh insisted that the team cannot allow the losing streak to fracture the locker room.

He said players need to remain connected and emphasized that giving up is not part of the team's culture.

"We just got to stay together," has essentially become the team's rallying cry.

Tony Jefferson echoed that sentiment,believing the locker room remains motivated to find a solution.

“Stay together, watch the tape and fix the leaks.” Jefferson said.

Joe Alt also acknowledged the need for improvement.

"We all gotta get better. The scoreboard doesn't reflect how we wanna play," Alt said.

Those are the right things to say, but the scoreboard has become impossible to ignore.

The Chargers aren't just losing. They're getting embarrassed.

Mike McDaniel isn't taking the blame

With the offense struggling this badly, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has naturally become part of the conversation.

However, Herbert wasn't interested in placing responsibility on his coordinator.

"It's not on him, it's on us as an offense," Herbert said.

Herbert also defended the communication following McDaniel's move to the coaching booth.

"There was no difference. I thought he called a great game, communication was still great."

That might be admirable from a leadership perspective, but it doesn't change the reality.

The offense has failed to produce consistently, and the quarterback has been unable to overcome the problems surrounding him.

Whether the responsibility falls on coaching, personnel or execution, something needs to change.

Harbaugh believes the offense can still be fixed.

"Yes," he said when asked whether the unit could turn things around.

At 0-8, however, simply believing something can be fixed isn't enough.

Chargers staring at franchise history— and potentially the No. 1 pick

The Chargers are now approaching territory that hasn't been seen in decades.

The worst start in franchise history belongs to the 2000 and 1975 San Diego Chargers, both of whom opened their seasons 0-11 before finally securing their first victories.

The Chargers are now three losses away from matching that unwanted record.

The last NFL team to begin a season 0-8 was the 2020 New York Jets, who finished that season at 2-14.

The Chargers are currently the NFL's only-winless team, with the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins sitting at 1-7.

At this point, the conversation surrounding this team has shifted dramatically.

Instead of discussing playoff positioning, a potential postseason run or Herbert's MVP candidacy, the Chargers are approaching the territory of competing for the No. 1overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.

That's an absolutely stunning development for a franchise that entered the season expecting much more.

And the road doesn't get any easier.

A trip to Baltimore could make things even worse

The Chargers now have to travel to Baltimore for a Monday Night Football matchup against the Ravens.

The game carries an additional storyline, as former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is now leading Baltimore after taking its head coaching position this offseason.

Minter knows the Chargers' personnel, tendencies and organizational structure better than most opposing coaches.

For a team already struggling to find answers, facing a former member of its coaching staff adds another difficult wrinkle.

The Chargers desperately need something positive to happen, but there is little evidence suggesting a turnaround is imminent.

The offensive line is struggling. Herbert is taking a beating. The offense cannot consistently score touchdowns. And the defense has surrendered 44 points in a game that quickly became a blowout.

Herbert continues to insist that the team needs to keep fighting.

"I just got to keep fighting," he said when asked about the 0-8 start.

That might be the only option left.

But fighting without meaningful adjustments is simply repeating the same mistakes.

The Chargers have reached a point where accountability needs to replace empty optimism. Players need to perform, coaches need to make changes, and the organization needs to seriously evaluate what has gone wrong.

Eight games. Eight losses. No touchdowns for 37 consecutive drives.

The Chargers are no longer just having a disappointing season. They are watching their season unravel in historically embarrassing fashion.

And unless something changes quickly, the conversation in Los Angeles could soon shift from finding the first win to securing the first overall pick.

For Herbert and the Chargers, Sunday's loss wasn't just another defeat.

It was another reminder of just how far this franchise has fallen.