CBS Sports asked its followers a simple question this week: which NFL team is the bigger disaster, the Los Angeles Chargers or the Houston Texans? Both are 0-4, and both look like teams that will be watching the playoffs from home this year. Four weeks ago, neither looked like a candidate for that label.
The Chargers were supposed to improve with Mike McDaniel running the offense. The Texans were a trendy pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Instead, the first four weeks have been a disaster for both teams. At 0-4, they have big problems.
What Went Wrong With the Chargers
The Chargers’ offensive issues are the main concern. Justin Herbert, who still hasn’t won a playoff game, doesn’t look right in the McDaniel offense. There aren’t tons of options in the passing game, but he is making some really bad throws.
The Chargers face a much tougher schedule over the next four weeks. 0-8 is possible, including a game against the Texans. That matchup looms as a chance for one of the league’s worst records to meet its mirror image.
The Texans’ Defense Gets Exposed
The Texans’ supposedly dominant defense hasn’t been great either. They were being compared to the 1985 Chicago Bears defense before the season, and yet the Dallas Cowboys gutted them in their victory Sunday. The offense came alive against the Cowboys, but the defense wasn’t good.
They can’t blame that one on C.J. Stroud, who has played well. The defense simply couldn’t stop the Cowboys’ attack.
Where the Teams Rank Now
In Prisco’s NFL Week 5 Power Rankings, the Texans are down to No. 26, while the Chargers sit at 27, one spot behind them. Houston is the lower-ranked of the two, but the gap is small. Both teams are heading in the wrong direction.
The Chargers’ offense is a mess right now. Herbert is struggling to find his footing in the new system, and the team has shown no signs of turning things around. The Texans, meanwhile, have a stronger recent performance on offense, but their defense remains a major problem.
The Road Ahead
If I had to pick one of these two to turn it around, I would go with the Texans. Their schedule softens some over the next few weeks, which gives them a chance to build momentum. The Chargers, by contrast, face a much tougher slate, and 0-8 feels within reach.
But the Texans are three games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South, which means the wild card is probably the only real playoff path. That is a steep hill to climb, especially with a defense that looks vulnerable against anyone.
Two teams with such high hopes four weeks ago are now floundering and wondering if the season is over. The difference between them is slim: both are 0-4, and both need to start winning soon.
The Chargers have the harder road ahead. The Texans have the softer schedule and a clearer path to improvement. Neither situation looks easy.
Schedule Comparison
| Team | Record | Next 4 Weeks | Playoff Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0-4 | Tough, including a game vs. the Texans | Wild card |
| Houston Texans | 0-4 | Softens some | Wild card |
The two teams are tied at 0-4, but their paths diverge from here. The Chargers face a gauntlet, while the Texans get a breather. Whether either can take advantage of that break is the question everyone in Houston is asking.
The answer, for now, is that both are in trouble. The Chargers have a quarterback who can’t seem to find the right reads, and the Texans have a defense that can’t stop anyone. Neither team has answered the question of whether they can win a game this season.
The season is young, but the early returns are not promising. The Chargers and Texans are both floundering, and the road back to respectability runs through a lot of losses. The question of who is the bigger disappointment is a fair one, but it may not matter much in the end — both teams need to win games, and neither has done that yet.
Source material: “Prisco's NFL Week 5 Power Rankings: Chargers and Texans a disaster, Browns climb up nine spots,” CBS Sports.
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