'We're not where we want to be': 0-2 Los Angeles Chargers are underachieving

Optimism emanated from the Los Angeles Chargers facility to open the regular season. Chargers coach Brandon Staley had spoken to Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr about past misfortunes, and the team claimed they were motivated in the aftermath of their playoff collapse in Jacksonville. But after the first two weeks to begin the season, the team finds itself in an 0-2 hole.

"Obviously you never want to be in this position," Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. "But I know we have the right group of guys in that locker room, and we’re gonna stay together, we’re gonna stay tough and we’re gonna get this thing going because it’s a long season and there’s a lot of football left. We’re not where we want to be right now but that doesn’t mean we can’t get there in the next couple of weeks."

The Chargers defense gave up 536 yards in their Week 1 loss to Miami, the most they’ve ever allowed in an opener. As an encore, the Chargers surrendered 27 points Week 2 to a Titans team that only scored 27 points or more once last season and were riding an eight-game losing streak dating back to Nov. 27, 2022.

Offense hasn’t been much of an issue. The Chargers are averaging 29 points per game and have no turnovers entering Week 3.

The Chargers are the first team in the Super Bowl era to be 0-2 despite scoring 50-plus points and commit zero turnovers through two games, via CBS Sports.

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What is most damning for Staley and the Chargers is their inability to close games and defense. The Chargers held an 11-point lead in the first half and had a 21-17 advantage in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. Furthermore, the Chargers defense has given up 877 yards and 63 points in their two losses.

"I think this team knows that we've been through tough games − two tough games," Staley said. "There's a lot of pride in that room. I think everything that has happened on film, that you can say were mistakes from our first two games, are correctable. We have the right people to correct them. I think there's confidence in who we have and how we're doing things. We're just going to focus on making the improvements each day so that we can create that confidence for game day."

Staley and the Chargers must find that confidence for game days quickly or else they’ll dig themselves into an insurmountable hole. The 2022 Cincinnati Bengals, who also found themselves 0-2 this year, are the only team in the 17-game regular-season era that still reached the playoffs following such a slow start.

The Chargers have too much talent on their roster to be sitting at 0-2. They have multiple Pro Bowlers on both sides of the ball. The team is underachieving. If the losing continues, Staley’s hot seat will become increasingly hotter.

We shouldn't label contests in September as must-win games, but Week 3's game between the 0-2 Chargers and 0-2 Minnesota Vikings is as close to a must-win game as it gets.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.