Jim Harbaugh faces a challenging start to his tenure with the Chargers after dropping consecutive home games to open the season, putting the franchise in rare and difficult historical territory according to league data. Per research from NBC Sports and OptaStats, the Chargers’ losses to the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders mirror historical struggles that few teams manage to overcome to reach the postseason.
Historical Precedent and the 0-2 Start
According to NBC Sports research, teams starting a season with two straight home losses face steep odds, with only two franchises in NFL history—the 1987 Colts and the 2003 Eagles—rebounding from an 0-2 home start to make the playoffs out of 209 such instances. OptaStats data further notes that the Chargers are only the second team in league history to lose back-to-back home games against opponents that finished the prior year with a winning percentage below .200. The only other team to experience this was the 1926 Racine Tornadoes, a franchise that folded after playing just one more game a century ago.
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Did you know? Per OptaStats records, the last time an NFL team suffered back-to-back home defeats against sub-.200 opponents from the previous season was exactly 100 years prior, during the era of the 1926 Racine Tornadoes.
The Upcoming Gauntlet for Harbaugh
The schedule offers little relief for the Chargers as they attempt to reverse their early-season trajectory. Harbaugh’s squad faces a demanding four-game stretch with away matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks, a home game against the Denver Broncos, and a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs before reaching their bye week.
Beyond that immediate stretch, the team still must play the Rams, Texans, Ravens, 49ers, alongside return matchups against the Chiefs and Broncos. Barring a significant turnaround, another mutual parting could eventually loom for Harbaugh and his current NFL employer if the losses mount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is an 0-2 start with two home losses?
According to NBC Sports research, out of 209 instances where teams began a season with two straight home games, only two teams—the 1987 Colts and the 2003 Eagles—managed to make the playoffs.
Who were the last team to lose to back-to-back sub-.200 opponents at home?
Per OptaStats, the Chargers joined the 1926 Racine Tornadoes as the only teams in NFL history to drop consecutive home games against teams that held a winning percentage below .200 the previous year.
What does the Chargers’ upcoming schedule look like?
The team faces away games against the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks, followed by a matchup against the Denver Broncos and a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to their bye week.
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