The Chargers keep making the wrong kind of NFL history

| Getty Images Falling to 0-3, as the Los Angeles Chargers did in a 24-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in upstate New York, is bad enough. But to add insult to injury, the Chargers keep making history this year. The wrong kind of history. After Week 2’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers joined the 1926 Racine Tornadoes on one of the smallest, and worst, lists in NFL history. Those are the only two teams in league history to lose the first two games of the season, at home, to teams with a winning percentage of .200 or less the season before. Losses to the Raiders in Week 2 — who finished the 2025 campaign with a 3-14 record and the first-overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft — and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, who picked third with a matching 3-14 record, doomed the Chargers to that list. The 1926 Racine Tornadoes were also doomed, as the team ceased operations a few weeks later. Then came Sunday at Highmark Stadium. The Chargers got out to a dream start on the road, securing a James Cook fumble on the opening play from scrimmage. That was just one of three first-half turnovers from the Bills, as Genesis Smith snared a pair of interceptions thrown by Josh Allen, the second a true “Interception of the Year” candidate. By the time the final whistle blew, the Chargers had forced five turnovers, winning the turnover battle by five to one, a +4 in that department. And still, the Chargers lost. Joining another short list. As noted by Sumer Sports, entering Week 3 NFL teams were 2-119-1 when losing the turnover battle by four or more, as the Bills did on Sunday. With the Chargers’ loss, those teams are now 3-119-1. But wait, there’s more! Evan Abrams of Action Network uncovered this stat. Since 2013, teams with five or more turnovers, a turnover margin of minus-four or more, are 3-81-1 straight up. The three teams to lose those games? The 2026 Chargers, the 2022 Chargers, and the 2015 Chargers: Since 2013, teams with 5+ turnovers & a -4 TO margin are 3-81-1 straight up (via @pfref)… The 3 wins: • Bills over Chargers (today) • Jaguars over Chargers (2022-23) • Broncos over Chargers (2015-16) pic.twitter.com/YhDatEI2zm — Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) September 27, 2026 That loss from the 2022 Chargers came in the epic comeback from the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card game that season, as Jacksonville overcame a 27-7 halftime deficit to win 31-30 on Riley Patterson’s 36-yard field goal as time expired. Jacksonville turned the ball over five times in that game — while the Chargers did not turn it over once — but still the Jaguars won. During the 2015 regular-season finale, the Chargers lost to the Denver Broncos by a final score of 27-20, despite Denver turning the football over five times, and the Chargers turning it over just once. Almost makes you excited to see what kind of history they make next.

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