The Chargers are now 0-2 after a 26-14 home loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
Here are five takeaways from the Bolts in Week 2:
1. Searching for answers
The Chargers just look ... off.
And two games into the 2026 season, the Bolts have now dropped both contests to drop into an 0-2 defecit.
"All three phases," Khalil Mack said. "We're doing a lot of things to hurt ourselves.
"Pretty much beating ourselves back-to-back weeks," Mack added. "Can't do that in this league in order to have success. Got to get everything corrected and get ready for the next one."
The Chargers lost Sunday's game to the Raiders by the same score as they did to Arizona a week ago.
Still, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and multiple players in the locker room expressed belief that the Bolts could get this turned around quickly.
"Not deterred. Nobody in that locker room is deterred," Harbaugh said. "I liked the way we fought and that's what it's going to take to fight our way out of this."
Ladd McConkey added: "It's a long season. This is Game 2, obviously if we drew it up we wouldn't want to be here at 0-2. We got 15 regular-season games left, we have to get right back on track and get rolling. We'll be alright."
And while there were some positives Sunday, the Chargers simply couldn't get into a 60-minute rhythm to secure their first win.
The Bolts are on the road in Week 3 as they travel to Buffalo to take on the 2-0 Bills.
"It's about continuing to battle back and get back to work," Joe Alt said.
Derwin James added: "I'm angry, but being angry doesn't fix anything. Being angry doesn't fix the problem that we have. We have to get it fixed. I feel like we're a couple of plays away, it's not like we're getting blown out. But we have to win these games, there's no reason we're going out there playing like that."
2. Offense hampered by miscues
When the Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their Offensive Coordinator in January, it was easy to picture the unit putting up plenty of points and yards.
But through two games, one stat that has defined the offense is turnovers.
The Chargers committed three turnovers Sunday and potentially could have had more.
Justin Herbert was intercepted in the first quarter, although that takeaway didn't lead to points as the Bolts defense came up with a goal-line stand.
The Bolts were then hurt by a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers as Omarion Hampton fumbled when the offense, trailing by three points, had just crossed midfield.
"I have to take care of it, put both hands on the ball and be better for my team," Hampton said.
Herbert was then intercepted on the Chargers ensuing drive.
All in all, the Chargers were credited with six total fumbles in the game, although Hampton's was the only one that was lost.
Perhaps the most critical one came late in the third quarter when the Bolts had third-and-1 at their own 32-yard line.
Herbert sent Tre' Harris in motion but Jake Slaughter's snap hit the wide receiver in the leg.
Although Herbert recovered, the Bolts were forced to punt.
"It was a big play for us and we didn't execute," Herbert said.
Harris added: "I tried to jump over it and get us a clean look. It was unfortunate what happened."
3. A look at the defense
For the most part, the Chargers defense put forth a solid effort Sunday.
The Raiders managed just 305 yards of offense, including a meager 57 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty had 21 carries for just 48 yards, good for an average of 2.3 yards per attempt.
But if there was one area that hurt the Bolts Sunday, it was a handful of explosive passing plays allowed.
The Raiders first touchdown came on a 40-yard pass to wide receiver Tre Tucker.
Tucker later hauled in a 42-yard reception late in the second quarter that led to a 59-yard Raiders field goal.
And a 27-yard pass to Dareke Young led to another Las Vegas touchdown that gave the Raiders a lead they wouldn't give up.
"Definitely big plays," James said when asked about the defense's performance. "It's the gotta-have-it's, the fourth downs, it's the before-the-half and not letting them get the points.
"You got to be good situationally on defense," James added. "It don't matter what the fire is, you have to put it out."
See the best game action from the Chargers' Week 2 AFC West matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE David Njoku (83)
TE David Njoku (83)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92), LB Daiyan Henley (0), CB Cam Hart (20) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
CB Cam Hart (20) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
LB Marlowe Wax (58) and CB Cam Hart (20)
LB Marlowe Wax (58) and CB Cam Hart (20)
WR Brenen Thompson (89)
WR Brenen Thompson (89) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
DL Teair Tart (93)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Bud Dupree (48) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Genesis Smith (22)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Steve Clinkscale, LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Lander Barton (57)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
LB Troy Dye (43)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
FB Alec Ingold (30) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and FB Alec Ingold (30)
T Joe Alt (76), FB Alec Ingold (30) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99), S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Genesis Smith (22)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Daiyan Henley (0), S RJ Mickens (27) and CB Tarheeb Still (4)
S RJ Mickens (27), CB Tarheeb Still (4) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S RJ Mickens (27) and CB Tarheeb Still (4)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S RJ Mickens (27) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Teair Tart (93)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Genesis Smith (22)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
RB Keaton Michell (34) and WR Tre Harris (9)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and C/G Jake Slaughter (66)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66) and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
G Cole Strange (69) and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
Tight Ends Coach Chandler Henley and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
CB Rodney Shelley (24) and S Kendall Williamson (32)
S Kendall Williamson (32) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
DL Teair Tart (93)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
FB Alec Ingold (30)
FB Alec Ingold (30)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
S Genesis Smith (22) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Genesis Smith (22)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
DL Nick Barrett (91) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66), G Cole Strange (69), OL Trevor Penning (75) and T Rashawn Slater (70)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
4. Offense out of sync
Here is one way to sum up the current state of the Chargers offense.
Joe Alt, one of the NFL's best offensive linemen, was called for three false starts and a holding penalty Sunday.
The holding penalty occurred in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders a safety with less than two minutes remaining.
"Personally, I have to work on the false starts," Alt said postgame. "Got to be better."
Now, Alt is not the reason the Chargers lost Sunday.
Harbaugh said he's "looking at it all," meaning every phase of the roster.
But Alt's performance encapsulates that McDaniel's offense is going through a trying time.
In short, the offense simply isn't clicking on all cylinders.
"We didn't execute," Rashawn Slater said. "It's frustrating … we're not finishing drives, so many self-inflicted wounds.
"We're shooting ourselves in the foot. You're never going to win like that. We need to fix that," Slater continued.
He later added: "It's technique, technical errors, stupid stuff like getting lined up. It's all types of errors."
5. Penning fills in at guard
Trevor Penning played both guard spots in Week 2.
The veteran played one series at right guard in the first half on a drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Harbaugh said postgame that starting right guard Cole Strange was "in being evaluated."
While Strange returned to the game after that, Penning later played the majority of the second half at left guard after Kayode Awosika suffered a fibula injury.
"Not a situation the team wants by losing your starting guard. I was ready, that's part of the job," Penning said. "Be ready when unfortunate things happen."
"I've been working at both [guard spots] all camp," Penning added.
