Despite a two-game losing streak as they head into their Week 5 bye, Jim Harbaugh remains hopeful about the future of the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).

Last Sunday, the Chargers lost 17-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs, who are the reigning Super Bowl champions. This marked the Chargers’ sixth consecutive defeat to the Chiefs and their first loss to them under Harbaugh’s coaching.

The Chargers started strong, scoring the first 10 points of the game. The defense also created two turnovers and limited Patrick Mahomes’ performance. However, the Chargers’ offense was unable to score at all in the second half for the second week in a row.

The struggle to maintain offensive production in the second half is just one of the challenges facing Harbaugh’s team. In Week 4, they delivered another disappointing showing in the passing game, a trend that’s becoming increasingly worrying.

“We’re making strides,” Harbaugh noted regarding the Chargers’ offense. “We aim to improve across all areas. We don’t see ourselves as finished yet. … It’s crucial for us to get that unit working effectively, especially in key moments.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed his first four seasons with an NFL record of 17,223 passing yards. However, under Harbaugh’s leadership, he has yet to throw for more than 200 yards in a single game this season.

“We need to remain patient and recognize that we have the right personnel; we just didn’t execute,” Herbert said following Sunday’s game. “It didn’t work out for us today, but we won’t let that hold us back moving forward.”

Expected to focus on the running game under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who specializes in that area, the Chargers made significant roster changes, including releasing WR Mike Williams and trading WR Keenan Allen, who were Herbert’s top two targets. But does Roman’s strategy suit Herbert’s strong points? So far this partnership has produced disappointing results. The Chargers currently hold the second-worst passing offense in the NFL, with Herbert averaging only 144 passing yards per game this season, a stark drop from his previous average of 275 yards-per-game in his first four seasons.

The silver lining is that there’s still plenty of time for the Chargers to enhance their struggling passing game. Following the bye week, they face a relatively easy schedule with consecutive away games against the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, before returning home to take on the New Orleans Saints. Players and coaches alike are optimistic about the remainder of the season.

“We just need to analyze the situation. If you watch the film and evaluate our offense and what the defense is doing, there’s a lot we can take pride in. But that means little; we can’t focus on moral victories, especially for me,” said Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack. “It’s a process. The key is to remain stable, neither too high nor too low, and concentrate on improving week by week.”

Perhaps no one is more optimistic than coach Harbaugh as the Chargers navigate their Week 5 bye.

“It’s an early bye, in Week 5,” Harbaugh explained. “I believe it’s beneficial given our current position and timing. An early bye allows the team to refresh but also provides the opportunity to focus on the areas that require improvement. We can use this time productively to reach the desired level of performance.”