Chargers' 2026 prediction worst-case scenario for Justin Herbert
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Chargers' 2026 prediction worst-case scenario for Justin Herbert originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Los Angeles Chargers need to finally take advantage of Justin Herbert's talents in 2026, and they've done the work in the offseason to make it happen.
A three-time Pro Bowl center in Tyler Biadasz, plus Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, coupled with the returns of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, L.A. has all the tools needed to make noise in the postseason.
But we have heard all of this before, and the Chargers have had a decent regular season, only to flame out in the playoffs.
And for Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, in his season prediction, he has the Chargers going 8-9.
"The Chargers didn’t upgrade many areas this offseason and lost a few key pieces: edge rusher Odafe Oweh and receiver Keenan Allen," Verderame wrote. "Oh, and the schedule is brutal. Starting in Week 3, Los Angeles will play the Bills, Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans and Ravens consecutively. They also finish the year with Kansas City and Denver.
"If the Chargers are going to get back into the playoffs, it’s going to be a long, hard road."
MORE:Analyst has bold early-season Chiefs prediction
No more Herbert excuses
Last season, yes, Herbert had one, as both of his starting tackles were out injured, and he still won 11 games and took the Chargers to the playoffs. That's noteworthy.
But if everything goes the way it should, injury-wise, the Chargers, with McDaniel calling the plays, should have more than enough creativity and weaponry to make Herbert look like the quarterback many think he is.
Granted, he has the regular season stats, but 0-3 in the playoffs isn't great. Still, the first port of call is to qualify for the playoffs and look good doing it.
Six years in the league and Herbert hasn't really done anything of note aside from some good numbers in the regular season.
In 2026, that's got to change.