Chargers game-by-game predictions after 2026 NFL Schedule release

The 2026 NFL Schedule Release is official, and the Los Angeles Chargers have a tough schedule looming. should we REALLY make our schedule release video in halo? yes yes yesyesyesyes yes yes yesyes yes yes yes yesyes yesyes yes yesyes yesye yes yesyes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/eusK9QmNGd — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 14, 2026The Chargers are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, where they have looked embarrassing in each one. Justin Herbert still does not have a playoff win in his career, and that should be the No. 1 priority for the Chargers before they can even dream about winning a Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh is the right coach for Herbert, and the franchise brought in offensive guru Mike McDaniel to lead the offense.Harbaugh's team will still be considered a playoff contender. 2026 could be the year where the Bolts take the division for the first time in LA and first since 2009.Here are the predictions for the Chargers' 2026-27 schedule.Week 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals – Result: WinThe Bolts open the season at home against the Cardinals. There is no better way to begin the season than against an opponent whom you know you can dominate. Arizona might end up with the worst record in 2026. They play in a very tough NFC West division with the current Super Bowl champions. The Chargers will dominate the Cardinals at home, similar to how they beat the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi on TNF in 2025.Week 2 vs. Las Vegas Raiders – Result: WinFernando Mendoza, who was drafted No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft after a very impressive campaign at Indiana, may not be the QB just yet in Week 2. The Raiders had a tremendous offseason, bringing in a ton of talent in free agency. Vegas also found a way to keep Maxx Crosby. Despite things looking very bright for the future in Vegas, it will take some time to ramp things up. The Chargers will win comfortably in this game against the Raiders to improve to 2-0.Week 3 @ Buffalo Bills – Result: LossJosh Allen vs. Justin Herbert is always a fun matchup to watch. The last time these two teams met, Tyler Bass walked off with a game-winning field goal. I expect this contest to be very close again, and the Bills take it at home in their new stadium. Allen and the Bills will be on a mission this season. This will be a 1:00 PM ET contest.Week 4 @ Seattle Seahawks – Result: LossHeading to Seattle to take on the reigning champions may be the most difficult game for the Chargers in 2026. The Seahawks might be the most dangerous team in the league, and the Chargers will have to play perfectly to win. The team is capable of doing it, but they will fall short in this one. The Seattle defense will be too much for the Bolts.Week 5 vs. Denver Broncos – Result: LossThe Broncos had a very impressive run last season and were very close to making a trip to the Super Bowl. Not having Bo Nix available in the AFC Championship shattered their Super Bowl dreams. Both of the matchups in 2026 are expected to be close between these two squads. One of these two teams will take the division as Denver aims to repeat.Nix should be available for the season opener, and he could pick up where he left off. By the time the Broncos and Chargers meet, we will know a good amount about these two squads. Denver takes the first of two games in LA in what should be a close one. The Bolts lose three straight games.Week 6 @ Kansas City Chiefs – Result: WinWith the injury to Patrick Mahomes, the question remains if the Chiefs will bounce back next season. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, but the 2026 offseason has been impressive for KC. They brought in Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and had an impressive draft. The Chiefs will be better this season than last; however, the Chargers are the better team right now. They beat them in Brazil last season when the Chiefs were healthy, and then followed up with a 3-point win in Kansas City. LA wins in KC in Week 6.Week 7 – BYEWeek 8 @ Los Angeles Rams – Result: LossThe atmosphere in this contest won't be any different than a home game for the Chargers. The fan base in Los Angeles still hasn't really taken a side yet between the Rams and the Bolts, with most of them being Raiders fans. This 2026 matchup will actually be a very good game, and the Rams will win as Sean McVay's offense plays very well against Jim Harbaugh's defense.Week 9 vs. Houston Texans – Result: LossThe Chargers may never beat the Texans ever again if Houston continues to have the dominant defense that they do. Herbert and Harbaugh can't seem to figure it out against that defense. McDaniel may be able to improve the offense, but the Texans will continue to control the Chargers and steal a win at SoFi. This will be a prove-it type game for the Chargers, but they will fall short for their fifth loss in six games.Week 10 @ Baltimore Ravens – MNF – Result: WinFormer defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over as head coach of the Ravens after the John Harbaugh era. This will be a matchup to circle now that the schedule is out. It is not a shock to see this game on primetime for MNF.The Chargers' offense may struggle against the Ravens with Minter knowing how things operate. Yes, McDaniel is going to run a different offense, but the chess match between a defensive genius and an offensive genius is going to be very exciting to watch. This will come down to the final drive of the game, and the Bolts will take the win.Week 11 vs. New York Jets – Result: WinThe Chargers should be able to control the Jets from start to finish. This may have the feel of a trap game, but at SoFi, the Jets won't offer much of a threat to the Chargers. It could be a low-scoring contest, but LA wins by reaching the endzone multiple times. The Chargers dominated Geno Smith last season.Week 12 vs. New England Patriots – SNF – Result: WinThe team that sent the Chargers home last January will head West to Los Angeles. The Chargers will host the Patriots for the first time since 2021, when Bill Belichick and crew beat the Bolts at SoFi. The Patriots have had a ton of drama this offseason, but the Pats should still be a very good team. The Chargers are going to get their revenge over the Pats and defeat them in a close game at home. This will be one of the few signature wins the Bolts have in 2026.Week 13 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Result: WinThe Chargers have historically played the Buccaneers very well in the regular season, with an 8-5 record; however, the Bucs are on a 4-game winning streak. Baker Mayfield and his squad came to SoFi in 2024 and won 40-17. In Tampa Bay this time around, the Chargers are going to have to play at the top of their game to win. They will get the job done and defeat the Buccaneers for the first time since 2008.Week 14 @ Las Vegas Raiders – Result: WinThe Chargers and Raiders play a much closer game the second time around in Vegas. Mendoza should be the QB this time around. LV threatens to win late, but LA will find a way to sweep the Raiders once again. LA wins five straight games.Week 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers – TNF – Result: LossThe Chargers and 49ers meet in LA for Thursday Night Football, and there will be a ton of red in the stands. It will feel like a Niners home game. The Bolts will keep it a close game at home, but the Niners will use the noise to escape with a win. The Chargers play very well in primetime, going 4-1 last season and going 2-1 in 2026. However, they don't win this one.Week 16 @ Miami Dolphins – Result: WinThe Dolphins are not going to be good in 2026. They may shock some teams with their play, but finishing games will be the weakness of the 2026 Dolphins, just as it was last season. Malik Willis takes over in Miami, and he will impress, but it won't lead to many wins.Mike McDaniel will want to score 50+ points against Miami in his former stopping grounds. The Chargers win this game easily in one of their more impressive wins of the season.Week 17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Result: WinThe Chargers and Chiefs meet again late in the season. Sprinting toward the playoffs, LA takes the second game for their second consecutive season sweep over the longtime rulers of the AFC West.Week 18 @ Denver Broncos – Result: WinThe Bolts take the second game in Denver in Week 18. McDaniel has coached very well against the Broncos in his career, and the offense will earn the team a victory in this massive contest to end the season. The Broncos and Chargers played in Week 18 last season, but Herbert did not play as the Bolts had already clinched the 7th seed. LA racks up three straight wins and eight of their final nine to end the season. Whether this win determines the AFC West is too early to tell, but it could.Final record: 11-6 The 2026 NFL Schedule Release is official, and the Los Angeles Chargers have a tough schedule looming. should we REALLY make our schedule release video in halo? yes yes yesyesyesyes yes yes yesyes yes yes yes yesyes yesyes yes yesyes yesye yes yesyes yes yesyes pic. twitter.