One loss to the Bucs, and suddenly, the Chargers find themselves teetering on shaky ground. Sure, 8-6 isn’t a bad record—it’s still above .500! It’s not the end of the world… But when you drop from second to third in the AFC West, well, that’s when the fanbase starts clutching their jerseys. More like tearing… in frustration, with all EYES locked in on Jim Harbaugh! The Sunday collapse against Tampa Bay? Yeah, not helping anyone’s nerves… But Justin Herbert might just be the coldest man in LA right now.

He’s got tunnel vision. When asked if he’s paying attention to playoff-clinching scenarios, the QB shrugged it off, saying, “I do not.” Herbert’s focus is squarely on the game at hand, especially since, in his words, these December and January matchups are “super important games…where at any moment, something big could happen.” Big moments? More like big pressure.

Meanwhile, if we are on the topic of pressure, let’s talk about the Chargers’ second-half flop against the Bucs. I mean, the less we talk about it, the better. But when a 17-13 lead at halftime turns into a 40-17 smackdown, you’ve got to heckle for answers! Zero points in the final two quarters, and Baker Mayfield looked like he was sending his final audition reels for the MVP.

But that’s not what Jim should be worried about… That’s the third time this season the Chargers have been shut out in the second half—a league-worst stat they share. Yikes. This isn’t all on Jim. But when you see a mix of problems, plus a lack of a solid running game that has been glaring all season. You have got to wonder if the X’s and O’s are creating a hot mess and not the execution.

Well, a similar course followed last week after they lost 19-17 to the Chiefs… More like a gamble… It involved Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker attempting a final-play kickoff to push the Chiefs deep into their own territory. However, the execution faltered when Dicker’s kick landed too short, resulting in a 10-yard penalty.

You can’t do that against Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas… So after the kick failed to push them back, Pat & Co. received a prime field position at the 40-yard line, which they pounced upon. Meanwhile, Harbaugh shouldered the blame, describing it as a “team decision” and acknowledging Dicker’s rare misstep: “He just hit it a little high on the ball.” Well, that was overlooked because it was against the Chiefs… But no way the Chargers fans were going to say, ‘IT’S OK’, two weeks in a row!

Now, before the calls mount against Harbaugh, we must bring you the most obvious—he’s a wise man. Plus, we have known him for turning struggling teams around. But still doesn’t ease the fact that he must address these offensive stalls and pronto. Time to call some fresh plays, Jim, because that clock is ticking on you.

Jim and Justin Herbert must come up with a new recipe!

Let’s be real—Jim Harbaugh’s track record is solid. National title at Michigan? Check. Super Bowl run with the 49ers? Yep, sorted. Turning underdogs into contenders? He’s done it. But all that shiny success on paper doesn’t mean much when your team is falling apart in the second half… It’s the game of two halves for the Chargers under his reins. Sunday’s meltdown against Tampa Bay was a masterclass in how not to close out games. Justin Herbert? Completely lost out there, and it showed.

Here’s the thing: defenses have cracked the Chargers’ ‘ O’ code. Tampa blitzed Herbert on a staggering 63.9% of his dropbacks—the second-highest rate of his career. Without a reliable running game (thanks, shaky O-line), defenses know they can pin their ears back and go full throttle. Add Herbert’s lower-body injuries limiting his mobility, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Rookie Ladd McConkey is the only one consistently beating man coverage. That’s like running a two-minute drill with one play in your pocket. It becomes a problem if it’s not working… TIME TO SWITCH UP!

Even Hall of Famer Kurt Warner is scratching his head. “It leaves me asking WHY so often!” he wrote, questioning offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s game plans. And honestly, he’s got a point. The Chargers seem stuck trying to force a run-first identity when their interior O-line can’t hold up, and J.K. Dobbins is still on IR. Why not simplify things for Herbert? Short passes, quick hits—anything to keep defenses guessing.

The Broncos roll into town Thursday, fresh off leapfrogging LA in the standings. The Chargers are running out of time to fix this mess. If Roman and Jim don’t think this through together. This season might not end with a playoff run—it might end with more questions than answers. And maybe, just maybe, more walkouts towards the big neon sign. No one wants that.