This was supposed to be the year for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coming off a season where they somehow scraped together a playoff appearance despite a number of key injuries, the Chargers were once again the darling of the off-season.
They were healthier, they hired Mike McDaniel to run their offence and quarterback Justin Herbert was supposed to be entering his prime at age 28.
But for all the promise the summer brought, the start to the 2026 season has been an unmitigated disaster in L.A.
The Chargers enter a Week 6 matchup against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs winless, and the pressure on Herbert and head coach John Harbaugh is growing by the day.
"Yeah, I don't know what that message is," Harbaugh said after he was asked what he would tell his team when it dropped to 0-5.
So how did we get here?
Well, it starts with the offence and Herbert.
For all the flashes of sky-high potential throughout his career, there's no question that Herbert has regressed this season.
Over his first six seasons in the league, Herbert had turned the ball over on 1.7 per cent of his offensive plays, per TruMedia. This season, that number has skyrocketed to 4.9 per cent, which is the highest mark in the NFL.
He's tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, many of which have come at pivotal points in the game.
Could some of it be blamed on more offensive-line injuries and his first season in McDaniel's offence?
Sure.
But there's no question there is something off with Herbert this season, and that is a very troubling sign for the Chargers.
With his QB floundering, it will be fascinating to watch how Harbaugh handles the remaining 12 games of the season.
Could he move on from McDaniel? Would he consider taking over offensive playcalling himself?
Because while the playoffs may already be a pipe dream, there may be some uncomfortable conversations headed Harbaugh's way if things remain status quo.
Here are some other storylines we are keeping an eye on in Week 6:
Marvin Harrison Jr. reunited with C.J. Stroud
Speaking of pressure, Marvin Harrison Jr. will be under the microscope across the pond.
Houston gave up a second-round pick to acquire the 24-year-old wide receiver from the Arizona Cardinals, and he is expected to make his Texans debut in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While a second-round pick might not seem like a lot for a receiver who was selected fourth overall, it is based on Harrison Jr.'s production.
The son of Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison failed to live up to expectations in Arizona.
He had just five catches for 85 yards in the first four games this season before the Cardinals decided to move on.
The hope for the Texans is that reuniting Harrison with Ohio State teammate C.J. Stroud will rejuvenate his career.
But with the Texans sitting at 1-4, there is pressure on Harrison to perform right off the bat.
Otherwise, that second-round pick could look like a misguided gamble.
Bears look to bounce back against Falcons
The Chicago Bears were forced to eat a slice of humble pie in Week 5.
Chicago was thumped 31-7 by division rival Green Bay last weekend, as the Packers outclassed the Bears from start to finish.
Part of the reason was that backup QB Tyson Bagent turned back into a pumpkin against the Packers, as backups often do after one successful start.
But the good news is that Caleb Williams appears ready to return from a three-game absence. He's listed as questionable, but also posted a hype video on his personal social-media accounts Friday, which would indicate he's ready to go.
If he does indeed return, expect head coach Ben Johnson to try to remind the league just how dangerous his offence can be with Williams at the helm.
The Bears may need to score a lot of points to win, as the Falcons offence has also been humming with Michael Penix Jr. under centre.
If you like offence, this could be the game for you.
Game to watch: Buffalo Bills (4-1) @ Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) — Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
This feels like a dangerous letdown spot for Buffalo.
The Bills are on a short week after a thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, and they decided to stay and practice in Southern California before they head to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders.
“To come out here and not really have to stress about going all the way to the east coast, all the way back to the west coast for the game on Sunday, get a chance to kind of put our feet down and really just try to hone in on getting better, continue to build our team camaraderie and hanging out with each other, breaking bread," Josh Allen said this week.
“But, yeah, we’re here for a business trip.”
Making matters more difficult is the fact that the Raiders have their own motivation on Sunday, as they were crushed by the New England Patriots in Week 5.
After a 3-0 start, the Raiders have lost two in a row and will be eager to prove they can compete with the best the league has to offer.
Forrest's favourites (Season record: 4-5)
Texans @ Jaguars — Pick: Jags -2.5: The Texans didn't get into London until Friday, while Jacksonville has been there since last week. As we've seen this season, overseas travel can matter, so we're rolling with the Jags.
Panthers @ Eagles — Pick: Panthers -3: The Panthers are coming off a bye, while the Eagles offence has been completely decimated by injuries, including to QB Jalen Hurts. Ride with Carolina.
Bears @ Falcons — Pick: Bears -1.5: With Williams expected back in the fold, Johnson should be able to open things up and prove last week's loss was just a blip on the radar.
Full Week 6 schedule (all times ET):
Thursday, Oct. 15
Denver Broncos 17, Seattle Seahawks 14 (OT)
Sunday, Oct. 18
Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London), 9:30 a.m.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
New York Jets at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 19
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m.
Bye week: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings
