The Los Angeles Chargers with Jim Harbaugh, who may be the best football coach I have ever seen, along with Justin Herbert who is amongst the most talented QBs I have ever seen, were one of my primary contenders to win it all headed into the 2025 season. At about the halfway point of the season, Los Angeles stands at 6-3 and are one of the primary contenders in the crowded AFC. They have not looked dominant by any stretch and their overall prowess as a team does not look that different as it did in year 1 of the Harbaugh/Herbert era where they lost their first postseason game by three scores, however. But despite that a 6-3 record is still very strong which includes a win over fellow division rival Kansas City who are the favorites to win the AFC to many. The question remains however, whether this Los Angeles Chargers team has what it takes to win the AFC despite the high points of the team thus far in 2025 and the overall strength of their coach + QB combination.
The offensive side of the ball was the concern in the first season of the Harbaugh/Herbert era. The team was not inept offensively but in totality the Chargers were just an average to a slightly above average offensive team last season. As Justin Herbert/Jim Harbaugh along with first year offensive coordinator Greg Roman had their growing pains together. While the personnel that Los Angeles had surrounding their star quarterback was very average if not less than average in totality. Unfortunately, the issues that haunted the Chargers in the first season of the Harbaugh era have continued to persist in year 2 of his coaching regime. Nine games into the season the Chargers rank 17th in the NFL in points per game scored while being graded as the 13th best overall offense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Los Angeles however is racking up the yards as the Chargers currently rank 5th in the NFL in yards per game accumulated while ranking top ten in both passing and rushing yards per game. The noticeable difference between the yards per game and points per game standings of the Chargers’ offense thus far in 2025 can certainly be attributed to turnovers and lackluster redzone offense. As Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the league in both departments on offense thus far in the 2025 campaign, which are two very correctable concerns. If Los Angeles can clean up those two areas on offense, then perhaps the Chargers can have their points per game metric be more on par with their yards per game metric which is elite as of now.
Continuing with the offensive side of the ball, Los Angeles Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert is in the elite group of QBs in the NFL to many and certainly is at the very least the next closest thing to essentially everyone. Herbert is having a very strong season where Pro Football Focus currently has him graded as the third best overall QB in the NFL thus far in 2025. Herbert has turned over the ball over at a very uncharacteristic rate thus far in the 2025 season throwing the third most interceptions among all QBs thus far this season. If Herbert can clean up those mistakes in the second half of the season, he will certainly be among the leading candidates for league MVP honors. Herbert, entering week 10, ranks 2nd in the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns, while he has also been the premier running QB in the NFL thus far as well. Herbert currently ranks 1st in rushing yards among non-HBs with Pro Football Focus also grading him #1 in running grade among non-HBs as well entering week 10. Justin Herbert is certainly one of the most talented QBs in the sport and is an MVP candidate halfway through the season. With Herbert healthy, the Chargers have one of the premier QBs in the NFL, and regardless of how subpar the rest of their players on offense can be, the Chargers will be a strong offensive team. However, although Herbert does not have a lengthy injury history, he does not strike me as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, or Jared Goff in terms of durability where I essentially never recall those three QBs needing to miss time. The Chargers’ offensive line through nine weeks has been perhaps the weakest in the NFL ranking near the bottom of all the key metrics including pass protection, thus exposing Herbert to injuries. Los Angeles currently has Trey Lance in line to backup Herbert with Lance being a former third overall pick who has not truly had a chance to prove he was worthy of being selected that high. Perhaps if Herbert were to go down, Lance could step up and play like the star he was supposed to be when he was drafted.
The personnel that the Chargers have surrounding their star QB was a concern in year 1 of the Harbaugh era and remains a concern in year 2 of the era as well. Thus far in the 2025 season, injuries have really affected the Chargers’ offense. Los Angeles signed former Steelers’ standout running back Najee Harris in the offseason, but he unfortunately sustained a season ending injury already. Los Angeles entering the season had one of the premier if not the premier starting tackle duo in the NFL with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Slater went down with a season ending injury before the season began and Alt has now suffered a season ending injury about halfway through the season. Even with Alt playing most of the snaps thus far in 2025, the Chargers’ offensive line production has been perhaps the weakest in the NFL. Entering week 10, Los Angeles ranks bottom six in the NFL in all the major metrics of offensive line production, sacks allowed, pass blocking efficiency, along with pass blocking and run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus. The remaining tackles outside of Alt thus far in the 2025 season have all produced at near a league worst level of play. Making the injury to Alt who was producing at a strong clip all that much more concerning. To address the tackle concerns after the Alt injury, the team has acquired former first round pick tackle Trevor Penning from the Saints. Penning as a former first round pick in the 2022 season has underwhelmed thus far in the NFL but has been far from a bust. Penning had a very strong rookie season in limited snaps and has never had the opportunity to put together multiple extended seasons at the tackle spot. Perhaps with the Chargers, Penning can come into his own and start to live up to his high draft billing as he has shown he is capable of doing from time to time. Even if Penning can start to come into his own, the tackle spots for the Chargers the remainder of the season will remain a large concern. As it is unlikely although possible that Penning can prove to be as strong of a player as Alt or Slater were at both the tackle spots. While the remaining Chargers’ tackles are still in line to all produce at a well below average clip.
Continuing with the interior offensive front of the Chargers, the team has also seen struggles as well. Players across the board on the interior of the Chargers’ offensive line have underwhelmed relative to their usual production levels thus far in the 2025 campaign. Starting guard Mekhi Becton who was acquired in the offseason from the Eagles has been abysmal thus far in a Chargers’ uniform after previously being a consistently above average player with Philadelphia. Although Becton has appeared in seven of the Chargers’ nine games thus far in 2025, his health has been a concern. Perhaps as Becton gets more acclimated to life with a new team and gets healthier, he can start to recapture his old form. A similar narrative can be written for starting center Bradley Bozeman who has been graded amongst the weakest players in the NFL thus far in 2025, while previously being a solid player with regularity. Although starting guard Zion Johnson has not underwhelmed to the extent that his starting interior offensive line contemporaries on the Chargers’ roster have thus far in 2025, he also has underwhelmed this season. The success that the Chargers see on the offensive side of things will be largely contingent upon the improvement of their interior offensive front.
The Chargers’ offensive line has produced at perhaps the weakest level in the NFL thus far in the 2025 season. This has been in large part due to injuries and typically strong players underwhelming. Both the Chargers’ star starting tackles have sustained season ending injuries while newly acquired guard Mekhi Becton has also struggled with health issues thus far in the 2025 campaign. Four of the five currently listed starters on the Chargers’ offensive front have some promise and if all or most of them can come into their own, the Chargers can really improve on the offensive front and potentially field a solid unit. Newly acquired former first rounder Trevor Penning who is slated to start at left tackle, has shown some promise and has indeed shown he was worthy of being selected that high from time to time. While guard Mekhi Becton has consistently proven to be an above average player with regularity prior to joining the Chargers before the season. In addition to it, starting center Bradley Bozeman and starting guard Zion Johnson have proven to be solid starters as well. All four of the players have really struggled with consistency this season, but if all or at least a few of them can play to near their potential, then the Chargers can field a respectable offensive line which they have not thus far in the 2025 season. However, the remainder of the Chargers’ offensive line is a big concern, as they do not have a starting caliber or even a strong backup caliber player in line to start for them at right tackle. The depth on the Chargers’ offensive front is also concerning as well, as they only have one high end caliber backup in reserve interior offensive lineman Andre James. As stated previously, the Chargers’ offensive line has produced at arguably the weakest level in the NFL thus far in the 2025 season. However, the unit is capable of improving and the Chargers certainly have what it takes to field a respectable, even if slightly below average, offensive line as the season continues. If the Chargers hope to win the AFC and get to the Super Bowl, then Los Angeles will need their offensive front to really improve and be at the very least a slightly below average unit. Which as aforementioned, they are capable of doing with better health and with players playing more-so up to their potential.
The skill position players for the Chargers were also a concerning point entering the season although they had some talent. Entering the season, Los Angeles had replaced their top two running backs from the previous season in Gus Edwards and J.K Dobbins with newly acquired veteran Najee Harris and rookie first rounder Omarion Hampton. Harris, the former Steeler standout, looked very strong in limited action for the Chargers before suffering a season ending injury. While Hampton has looked good in the first portion of his NFL career and has certainly shown that he was perhaps worthy of being a top draft pick as a halfback. Because of Harris’ injury and also Hampton being sidelined for some time, the Chargers have had additional running backs log substantial snaps for them. Jaret Patterson and Kimani Vidal have looked solid in their time on the field in place of the injured Hampton and Harris, thus exemplifying the depth of the Chargers’ backfield. Entering week 10, because of their backfield which is amongst the most talented in the NFL and also because of Herbert coming into his own as a runner, Pro Football Focus has the Chargers graded as the number one overall running team in the NFL. The Chargers currently rank 10th in rush yards per game and 8th in rush yards per attempt thus far in 2025, despite the Chargers’ offensive front being graded as the worst run blocking unit in the league and Los Angeles having a beat-up backfield. If Los Angeles can right the ship on the offensive line and get healthier at the running back spot, perhaps the Chargers can become one of the premier if not the premier running team in the NFL.
From a receiving core standpoint, the Chargers have been strong thus far in the 2025 season but still have some room to improve. Ladd McConkey who was second round pick before last season had an outstanding rookie season in 2024 and was in line to emerge as perhaps the premier slot receiver in the NFL for years to come. McConkey has been solid thus far in 2025 but has regressed from his rookie season. The poor offensive line production of the Chargers has likely contributed to the drop off in his play. Perhaps as Los Angeles rights the ship on the offensive line, McConkey can then build off his rookie season and capture elite form. The lack of another high-level receiver to complement McConkey in the unit haunted the Chargers during the 2024 season. As although McConkey was good, his smaller frame likely has him better suited as a strong #2 wide out. The Chargers lacked the presence of a consistent big bodied, true #1 wide receiver, who could stretch the vertical and sideline portions of the field last season. 2023 first round pick Quentin Johnston served in that role during last season but was far too inconsistent in doing so. Headed into this season, finding a capable player to fill that role alongside McConkey in the receiving core was a pressing point for the franchise as the season approached. Before the season, the team resigned veteran Keenan Allen and drafted rookie Tre Harris at the top of 2nd round in hopes that either could fill the role, while also hoping that Johnston could become more consistent as well. So far in the 2025 season, Johnston has been subpar, while Harris has had his rookie struggles producing at a below average rate. However, veteran Keenan Allen has recaptured some of his young prime form. Allen has graded (13/93) among qualified wide receivers in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus thus far in 2025 while not missing a game as of yet and leading the team in receptions. The wide receiver unit for the Chargers looks strong led by McConkey and the veteran Allen with high draft picks Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris providing depth in the unit.
The tight end unit for the Chargers entering the season was perhaps the biggest concern I had about the roster of the team. Entering the year, I felt as if the Chargers’ tight end unit was in the discussion for being amongst the weakest overall tight end units in the NFL. Will Dissly was capable, but I felt as if he was better suited in a #2 TE role. But with the lack of talent in the rest of the unit, he was being forced to take over the primary tight end responsibilities. However, 2025 5th rounder Oronde Gadsden II has been amongst the pleasant surprises in the NFL thus far this season. Gadsden II ranks in the top ten among all tight ends in 2025 thus far in terms of receptions, receiving yards, and yards per reception with Pro Football Focus grading him top 10 among all tight ends in terms of an overall offense grade as well. His standout markings in terms of receptions and receiving yards is even more impressive given the fact that he has missed multiple games. Gadsen II has emerged as a true #1 tight end and one of the biggest concerns I had with the Chargers as the season approached has indeed been addressed. Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin provide very strong depth in the unit as well, as each of the two players are elite #2 and #3 tight ends who are both capable of being starters. With the emergence of Gadsden II, the Chargers’ tight end unit which I felt could be amongst the weakest in the NFL, I now view to be as amongst the premier tight end units in the NFL.
Overall, on the offensive side of things, the Chargers have shown flashes of excellence this season. As Los Angeles scored 27 and 37 points on elite caliber Chiefs’ and Vikings’ defenses while currently ranking 5th in the NFL in yards per game accumulated entering week 10. However, the good but not great nature of the Los Angeles offense that haunted them during the 2024 season has seemingly continued this season. As it does feel as if the Chargers are an above average offensive team but certainly not one that is elite by any stretch. Ranking 5th in yards per game accumulated, which many point to as perhaps the biggest indicator of offensive prowess even more-so than points per game accumulated, is no small feat, however. The drastic difference between the Chargers points per game metric which is average, 17th, and their yards per game metric, which is elite, 5th, can certainly be attributed to turnovers and lackluster redzone offense. Perhaps if Los Angeles can clean up their 26th ranked redzone offense and Herbert can stop turning the ball over in an uncharacteristic fashion, maybe the Chargers can prove to an elite caliber top 5-10 offense which their yards per game output has indicated they indeed are. The biggest concern for the Chargers on the offensive side of things is their offensive line. The Chargers’ offensive line has produced at perhaps the weakest level in the NFL thus far in the 2025 campaign. If the Chargers’ offensive front can become just respectable, it would go a long way towards the Chargers becoming the caliber of team capable of getting to the Super Bowl. On the offensive side of things, the Chargers have an A to an A+ caliber QB who one could argue is as good as any in the sport, they have maybe the best football coach ever in Jim Harbaugh who has an offensive background. The Chargers’ offensive personnel surrounding those two individuals has been a concern however as their offensive line has been putrid thus far in 2025 with Los Angeles possessing good but not special skill position players as well. If the offensive line can be just respectable, even if slightly below average, and if the skill position unit can start to take a jump into the great territory in totality, then the sky will be the limit for the Chargers offensively this season. If either or both of those things were to occur, then Los Angeles could turn into an elite offensive team which their 5th ranked yards per game ranking as of now has shown they have inside of them. Los Angeles will likely need to turn into an elite offensive team if they want to win the AFC but are indeed capable of doing so.
