Los Angeles Chargers 2026 schedule: Game-by-game breakdown and predictions

The Chargers posted back-to-back 11-6 records and advanced to an AFC wild-card playoff game in each of Jim Harbaugh's first two seasons as their coach and Joe Hortiz's first two years as their general manager. Does it get any better than that for their third year together?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

The schedule is difficult, ranked the ninth-toughest in the 32-team NFL.

Avoiding injuries to key players will be very important in 2026.

The start doesn't look so bad, but it's what comes next that could determine the course of the Chargers' season. After playing host to the middling to subpar Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers hit the road to play the Buffalo Bills and then the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. It gets tougher before it gets easier.

Here's a week-by-week look at how the Chargers might fare in 2026:

Sept. 13: Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium

New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary make their Chargers debuts against a team with a new coach in Mike LaFleur and a new running back in Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, the third overall pick in the NFL draft. Win. Record: 1-0.

Sept. 20: Las Vegas Raiders, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Raiders picked Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in the draft, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll lead them to an escape from the AFC West cellar in his rookie season. Win. Record: 2-0.

Sept. 27: Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m., Highmark Stadium

The Chargers caught a break with the league sending them to western New York in September when the weather is often quite pleasant. A trip to visit the Bills' gorgeous new stadium in December wouldn't be so nice. Loss. Record: 2-1.

Oct. 4: Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., Lumen Field

The Super Bowl champs and their stingy defense host the Chargers for the first time since 2018. The Seahawks will present McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert with their most difficult challenge in the opening weeks of the season. It will serve as a benchmark. Loss. Record: 2-2.

Oct. 11: Denver Broncos, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Broncos ended the Kansas City Chiefs' reign atop the AFC West and advanced to the conference championship game before losing to the New England Patriots. There is zero reason to believe Bo Nix and the Broncos will be less of a challenge this season. Win. Record: 3-2.

Oct. 18: Kansas City Chiefs, 1:25 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium

The Chargers ended a seven-game losing streak to the Chiefs by beating them twice last season, including the game that eliminated them from the playoffs on a 15-degree afternoon in K.C. It also was the game that sidelined quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the rest of the season with an ACL tear. Win. Record: 4-2.

Oct. 25: Bye

Nov. 1: Rams, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

Would it be too much to ask to see the Chargers and Rams play in a hometown Super Bowl on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium? Yeah, probably. Loss. Record: 4-3.

Nov. 8: Houston Texans, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Texans have been one of the NFL's toughest defensive teams recently, but their C.J. Stroud-led offense has been nothing short of meh. Loss. Record: 4-4.

Nov. 16: Baltimore Ravens, 5:15 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens' decision to fire John Harbaugh as their head coach was surprising, but their decision to hire ex-Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was not. The Chargers were one of the league's top defenses in Minter's two seasons on the job, and you can expect he'll bring the same attention to detail in Baltimore. Loss. Record: 4-5.

Nov. 22: New York Jets, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

This looks like a classic trap game. The Jets don’t look scary at all. Win. Record: 5-5.

Nov. 29: New England Patriots, 5:20 p.m., SoFi Stadium

It's too easy to say Greg Roman would still be the Chargers' offensive coordinator and McDaniel might be employed elsewhere if the Chargers' offense hadn't sputtered beyond all comprehension during a lackluster 16-3 loss to the Patriots in a wild-card game Jan. 11 in New England. It'll be different this time with McDaniel calling the plays. Win. Record: 6-5.

Dec. 6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10 a.m., Raymond James Stadium

Here's another opponent the Chargers can't afford to overlook. Win. Record: 7-5.

Dec. 13: Las Vegas Raiders, 1:05 p.m., Allegiant Stadium

The Chargers won both games against the Raiders last season and neither was close. Their 31-14 victory over Las Vegas on Nov. 30 at SoFi Stadium set them up for a four-game winning streak that cemented their playoff status. Win. Record: 8-5.

Dec. 17: San Francisco 49ers, 5:15 p.m., SoFi Stadium

If recent history is any indication, this will look like a 49ers home game. Few teams have as many traveling fans as the 49ers, up there with the Dallas Cowboys. Of course, fans don't win games, but that sea of red-clad fans could be, um, interesting. Loss. Record:8-6.

Dec. 27: Miami Dolphins, 10 a.m., Hard Rock Stadium

McDaniel makes his return to South Florida, where he coached the Dolphins for the past four seasons. The first two seasons established him as one of the sharpest young offensive minds in the game. The last two were more of a slog, which included a 29-27 come-from-ahead loss to the Chargers last season. Win: Record: 9-6.

TBD: Kansas City Chiefs, TBD, SoFi Stadium

This looms as a playoff clincher for the Chargers, who have a chance for a second consecutive season sweep of the Chiefs. It also looms as a must-win for Mahomes, coach Andy Reid and Kansas City if the Chiefs hope to overtake the Chargers and avoid missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Win. Record: 10-6.

TBD: Denver Broncos, TBD, Mile High Stadium

The Chargers' regular-season finale loss to the Broncos was their lone defeat to an AFC West opponent. It also was a game in which Harbaugh rested almost all of his starters, including Herbert, outside linebacker Khalil Mack and several other key players. Could a repeat be in order? Could the AFC West be settled by then? Loss. Record: 10-7.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 12:03 PM.