Analyzing the Chargers 2026 schedule: Predictions, trap games, and more

The schedule makers did not do the Chargers any favors when it comes to easy stretches. They get a pair of softer matchups with the Cardinals and Raiders at home in the first two weeks. Beginning a season 2-0 bodes well for historically making the playoffs. However, it’ll be mid-to-late November when the Chargers come out the other side of their most difficult stretch of games. In Week Three, they travel to the Bills. Then, they head to Seattle to face the reigning Super Bowl champs. The Broncos at home and an away game at the Chiefs are what they’ll have to survive to get to their bye in Week Seven. Now while that bye will absolutely be needed following that gauntlet, it doesn’t get much better on the other side. Right off their break, they’re at SoFi Stadium to be the away team against the Rams. Then it’s home against the Texans and a road trip trip to visit old defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in Baltimore. That’s seven consecutive games against true-and-tried postseason contenders before they face the Jets in Week 11 at home. You’d think that’s just the one tough stretch on the schedule…right? Wrong. After the Jets, they face the Patriots, Bucs, Chiefs, Broncos, and 49ers in their final seven games of the season. Holy smokes. You want to talk about no rest for the wicked? The Bolts don’t get much this year. The AFC West will be better this year and they landed some rough non-division and non-conference games. Can the Chargers win 11 or more games for the third season in a row?

Favorite primetime game?

I don’t think there’s an answer here other than their date with the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. It’s the first game for Jesse Minter against his former team and it happens to come under the bright lights of primetime. There’s an argument to be made for the team’s Week 12 matchup against the Patriots on Monday Night Football due to the recent playoff game between the two, but the storylines just aren’t the same. I have a feeling that game will go a whole lot different this season thanks to the improved Chargers offensive line, which will be one heck of a refreshing change of pace from that horrible image of Herbert being peeled off the ground in Foxborough this past January.

Initial record prediction?

I’m going with 10-7 as of right now. Last season, I said the team would finish 9-8, and if everything went their way luck-wise, they’d be 10-7. So you can understand that it blew my mind to see the Chargers win 11 games with all of their offensive line woes. Jim Harbaugh continues to find a way to win more games than it looks like he should, but how long can he keep up the high-rolling? Something tells me they regress a bit this year, but since the team will (seemingly) be healthy, I predict they’ll get double-digit wins for a third consecutive seasons. Specifically, I think the Chargers will sweep the Raiders and split their series with the Chiefs and Broncos. Starting with that 4-2 record off those six contests, I also have them beating the Cardinals, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, Ravens, and Bucs. That means losses to the Bills, Seahawks, Texans, 49ers, and Rams. My thought process here is that the Ravens will be better, but I can’t bet against the mentor when playing against one of his former assistants. The Patriots will see some regression and the Bucs will be without Mike Evans. That has to affect the offense to a degree. While the Bills don’t necessarily fit in this category, the majority of their losses are coming at the hands of teams with elite defenses. Both the Seahawks and Texans scare the crap out of me. The 49ers at full health are always one of the best teams in the league. Then the Rams are the Rams. They looked incredible last year and while I don’t think they got much better this offseason, they aren’t expected to be any worse.