Jim Harbaugh is digging his heels in while the Los Angeles Chargers offense stalls completely. Following a 24-9 defeat against the Rams on Sunday that dropped the team to 0-7, the coach stated Mike McDaniel will remain the play-caller.
The team has not scored a touchdown in two straight games. Harbaugh admits they know the problems but refuses to fix them by changing the person calling the shots. This stubbornness is costing the team any chance at a playoff spot.
The Chargers entered Sunday as the lowest-scoring offense in football, averaging just 15 points per game. They were tied with four other teams for the worst red-zone success rate at 50 percent. All nine points in the loss came from kicker Cameron Dicker.
Justin Herbert threw for 257 yards but also threw two interceptions and took two sacks. The ground game was equally weak, managing only 64 rushing yards total. Kimani Vidal led the team with 23 yards on eight carries.
Harbaugh doubles down on McDaniel
When reporters pressed Harbaugh on Sunday about the offensive struggles, he gave a vague answer that offered no real hope. He opened his press conference by saying, according to the New York Post, “We’re aware of what the issues are, and we’re the only ones that can fix them.”
When asked directly if he knew what those issues were, he replied, “Yes, I’m not gonna address anything; I’m focused on this game and that’s my focus.” The coach was then asked if McDaniel would continue to call plays. Harbaugh said, “Uh, yes, not gonna address…” before cutting off the thought.
That sounds like a promise to fix the problem without actually changing the person who is failing. When asked again why they are keeping McDaniel after seven bad games, the coach offered no new details.
Why the lack of a touchdown matters
On Sunday, the Chargers went without a touchdown for the second consecutive game. This is a massive red flag for a team with Justin Herbert at quarterback. In the final seconds of the second quarter against the Rams, Herbert threw a Hail Mary that was caught by Ladd McConkey.
The receiver made a 54-yard reception but landed a yard short of the end zone. That single play highlights the margin of error the offense is working with. They cannot afford to miss by a yard when they are already in a hole.
This loss leaves playoff hopes as nothing more than a distant afterthought. Harbaugh claims his motivation is fixing the team, but his actions suggest he is just waiting for time to run out. Fans are left watching a coach who says he knows the issues but will not change the man responsible for them.
The Chargers have to find a way to score points soon or the season is over. The team is 0-7 and averaging less than 15 points per game now. He has the authority to make a change, yet he is choosing to stay silent on the real solution.
