{"id":1046952,"date":"2026-11-06T00:33:20","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T00:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1046952\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T00:33:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T00:33:20","slug":"mike-mcdaniel-making-chargers-play-calling-change-amid-offensive-struggles-nfl-worst-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/1046952\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike McDaniel Making Chargers&#8217; Play-Calling Change Amid Offensive Struggles, NFL-Worst Record"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is heading upstairs after an 0-7 start to the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">McDaniel <a class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__ui__link__medium_strong mui-mlpnpn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rCyvmdVqKnQ\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">told reporters<\/a> Thursday he has spoken with head coach Jim Harbaugh about calling plays from the coaches&#8217; box ahead of Sunday&#8217;s matchup against the visiting Houston Texans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">&#8220;I won&#8217;t be in the same spot&#8230; I&#8217;m being very open-minded with all things,&#8221; McDaniel said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">Harbaugh <a class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__ui__link__medium_strong mui-mlpnpn\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/alexinsdorf99\/status\/2117057041210450266?a=vAZYgsKEKNzvOHz3-yM&amp;s=20\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">confirmed<\/a> McDaniel would continue calling plays after the Chargers continued their winless season with a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">&#8220;It seems like a good action to take based on how things have gone this year, and realistically something I&#8217;ve only brought up because I&#8217;m very confident in the rest of the offensive coaching staff and how they&#8217;re able to set the tone and communicate information on the sidelines,&#8221; McDaniel said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">He added the &#8220;impetus&#8221; for making the change was his experience working with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who called plays from the box when serving as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and 2016.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">McDaniel also said when discussing the decision he felt he should take on some of the &#8220;burden&#8221; being carried by Justin Herbert after the quarterback threw an NFL-high 10 interceptions during his team&#8217;s winless start.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">&#8220;To their credit, the guys see a vision of how they can play to the standard with which we have yet to meet&#8230; I have reasonable expectation for things to improve,&#8221; McDaniel said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">The Chargers are heading into the weekend ranked 26th in the NFL in total passing yards and 18th in total rushing yards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">Harbaugh said after his team put up 295 total yards of offense but scored no touchdowns and committed two turnovers against the Rams he would be sticking with both Herbert and McDaniel going forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">When asked after Sunday&#8217;s loss what gave him confidence to stick with his offensive coordinator, Harbaugh <a class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-inherit MuiLink-root MuiLink-underlineAlways MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__ui__link__medium_strong mui-mlpnpn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=R9maQiL9onk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">said<\/a> it would be &#8220;team effort&#8221; to improve going forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-bp_small__body__article__medium mui-m06sf4\">The Chargers are preparing to face a Texans defense that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards against in the NFL so far this season. McDaniel will hope his bird&#8217;s-eye view can help Herbert take advantage of those struggles when Sunday&#8217;s matchup kicks off Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is heading upstairs after an 0-7 start to the season. 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