Los Angeles Chargers
· 2026-07-12
Los Angeles Chargers entered the 2026 season with an 11‑6 record, sitting seventh in the AFC and riding a two‑game winning streak, but a porous offensive line could derail their Super Bowl ambitions as they prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals on September 13.
Jim Harbaugh promised a turnaround after the 5‑12 disaster in 2023, and the team responded with back‑to‑back 11‑win campaigns. Yet both playoff exits—first to the Houston Texans, then the New England Patriots—exposed a glaring flaw: the trenches. Left tackle Rashawn Slater and right tackle Joe Alt missed significant time last year, leaving quarterback Justin Herbert vulnerable to pressure. Harbaugh’s belief that a fully healthy duo will resurrect a "Mean Machine" line remains untested, and the Chargers' sack rate still ranks in the bottom third of the league.
Herbert continues to impress with his size—6‑6, 236 lb—and arm strength, posting a 65.9 % completion rate and a 23‑3 touchdown‑to‑interception ratio in 2024. Still, without consistent protection, his quick release is forced into hurried throws, inflating his interception total to 13 last season. The quarterback’s elite physical gifts can’t fully compensate for a line that allows opponents to generate pressure on third‑down situations, a factor that has haunted the Chargers in every postseason appearance.
Harbaugh’s play‑calling has leaned heavily on deep passes and play‑action, hoping to buy time for a still‑developing running game. The strategy works when the line holds, but the Chargers have struggled to establish a ground attack that can relieve Herbert of constant blitzes. To survive a playoff gauntlet, Harbaugh needs to diversify his scheme—incorporating more zone runs and quick‑screen concepts that neutralize a blitz‑heavy defense.
The next test arrives on September 13 when the Chargers host the Arizona Cardinals. A win would extend their two‑game streak and keep momentum alive heading into a crucial mid‑season stretch. However, if the line continues to crumble, even a potent passing attack may not be enough to secure a playoff berth, let alone a Super Bowl run. The Chargers’ fate now hinges on whether Slater and Alt can stay healthy and dominate the line of scrimmage.
The answer may lie in the upcoming matchup. A solid performance against the Cardinals could prove Harbaugh’s line revival is real, while a repeat of last year’s protection woes would signal deeper issues. For now, the Chargers must turn their offensive line from a liability into a launchpad for Herbert’s brilliance if they hope to finally break through the postseason barrier.