Brief

Chargers face uphill battle after 0-3 start as history offers slim hope

Only seven teams have ever made the playoffs after losing their first three games, a statistic the Chargers hope to emulate.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:06:23 GMT

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the team is "searching for every possible way to give ourselves an advantage" as they head into a Sunday matchup in Seattle, remaining winless after an 0‑3 start to the 2026 NFL season.

The article notes that only seven teams in the Super Bowl era have recovered from an 0‑3 opening to reach the postseason. Those teams include the 1992 San Diego Chargers, 1981 New York Jets, 1982 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1995 Detroit Lions, 1998 Buffalo Bills, the 2018 Houston Texans and the Texans’ 2022 comeback.

Harbaugh’s Chargers have struggled offensively despite a turnover‑positive performance against Buffalo, and a recent change at offensive coordinator to former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has not yielded results. Their defense has kept games close, but the offense “has sputtered and wheezed,” according to the source.

Meanwhile, the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers also sit winless, while the Miami Dolphins sit 0‑3 but are considered a less shocking case. Houston quarterback C. J. Stroud told reporters the team knows how to turn things around, recalling the Texans’ 2018 comeback.

Historical context includes a 1992 San Diego Chargers team that turned a 0‑4 start into a playoff run, and a 1995 Detroit Lions squad that rallied after three early losses, eventually winning seven straight to finish 9‑7.

Former Lions linebacker Stephen Boyd recalled coach Wayne Fontes’ calm after a 0‑3 start, describing a meeting where Fontes promised to give Barry Sanders more of the ball, a strategy that preceded a win over San Francisco.

Key facts

• The Chargers are 0‑3 and will play Seattle on Sunday. (latimes.com)
• Only seven teams in the Super Bowl era have made the playoffs after an 0‑3 start. (latimes.com)
• Jim Harbaugh said the team is searching for every possible advantage. (latimes.com)
• Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a former Dolphins coach, has not improved the Chargers' offense. (latimes.com)
• Houston quarterback C. J. Stroud said his team knows how to turn a season around. (latimes.com)

Sources

• [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “From 0-3 to the playoffs: History offers Chargers some hope for a comeback”