Tarnished Expectations: How the Rams, Saints, and Chargers Are Slipping Off the Championship Track

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For a slate of franchises entering the autumn with championship aspirations, the early months of the 2026 sports calendar have delivered an uncompromising reality check. From high-profile NFL contenders stumbling out of the gate to baseball giants falling behind in October, a collective dark cloud has settled over Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Here is a detailed breakdown of how things have gone wrong for the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and Los Angeles Dodgers, the stats behind their struggles, and the mounting pressure facing their leadership.

Los Angeles Rams (2–3): A Preseason Powerhouse Stuck in Neutral

Entering the 2026 campaign as consensus NFC West favorites and Super Bowl contenders, Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams find themselves mired in a sluggish 2-3 start. Loaded with high-caliber talent—led by former MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, star receiver Puka Nacua, and an aggressively re-tooled defensive front—the Rams were built to dominate immediately.

Instead, consistency has eluded them:

- The Standings: At 2–3, Los Angeles sits third in the NFC West, chasing the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (5–0) and hovering just one game ahead of the last-place Arizona Cardinals (1–4).
- Execution Gaps: While the offense continues to put up yardage in stretches, costly red-zone stalls and defensive breakdowns in key second-half moments have prevented Los Angeles from establishing rhythm.
- The Outlook: The Rams still possess all the tools to launch a midseason run, but in an NFC West dominated by San Francisco’s relentless pace, Los Angeles has already surrendered its margin for error.

https://t.co/WZvDNKEv81

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 11, 2026

New Orleans Saints (1–4): Can a Weak NFC South Save Their Season?

The New Orleans Saints envisioned 2026 as the year they would finally break out of their multi-year playoff drought. Instead, head coach Kellen Moore’s squad has stumbled to an alarming 1–4 start, capped by a 23–13 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5.

The Saints’ numbers paint a troubling picture:

- - Defensive Struggles: New Orleans is surrendering 30.2 points per game (31st in the NFL), repeatedly failing to record stops in critical fourth-quarter drives.
  - Offensive Turnover Woes: Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has thrown for 1,299 yards and 9 touchdowns, but 5 interceptions and 3 lost fumbles from the offense have routinely erased momentum.

Is the Season Over?

Oddly enough, no. The silver lining for New Orleans is the historically sluggish NFC South. The Carolina Panthers currently lead the division at just 2–2, with the Atlanta Falcons sitting at 2–3. Because no team in the division has pulled away, the Saints remain mathematically alive. However, turning a 1–4 record into a playoff berth requires an immediate turnaround on defense and ball security—starting in Week 6 against the New York Giants.

Los Angeles Chargers (0–5): The NFL’s Most Glaring Disappointment

While the Rams and Saints have struggled, no team in professional football has suffered a more catastrophic meltdown than the 0–5 Los Angeles Chargers. Entering year two under head coach Jim Harbaugh with Super Bowl expectations, the Chargers have hit rock bottom following a 23–17 loss to the Denver Broncos.

It’s Time to Hold Herbert and Harbaugh Accountable

For years, the national narrative surrounding quarterback Justin Herbert framed him as an untouchable, elite franchise savior hampered solely by coaching instability or supporting-cast deficiencies. At 0–5, that excuse no longer holds water.

- - Herbert’s Regression: Through five games, Herbert is completing just 59.4% of his passes for 937 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. His inability to make plays under pressure or drive the ball downfield in late-game scenarios was painfully evident against Denver, where the Chargers failed to score a point in the fourth quarter.
  - Harbaugh’s System Failing: Jim Harbaugh was brought to Los Angeles to install physical toughness, a dominant running attack, and operational discipline. Instead, the Chargers rank 30th in scoring offense (16.8 points per game) and dead last in turnover margin (-5). Harbaugh’s game management—highlighted by conservative play-calling on crucial third-and-shorts—has directly contributed to three late-game collapse losses.

With matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens looming, an 0–5 start could quickly spiral into an unsalvageable 0–7 or 0–8, threatening complete organizational restructuring by season’s end.