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(Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Chargers‘ 2026 regular season schedule is officially set. Let’s take a look.
- Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Week 2: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
- Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 7: BYE
- Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams
- Week 9: vs. Houston Texans
- Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 11: vs. New York Jets
- Week 12: vs. New England Patriots
- Week 13: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 14: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Week 16: at Miami Dolphins
- Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 18: at Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers ‘Screwed’ by NFL Schedule Makers
GettyChargers QB Justin Herbert
Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated made a list of eight teams that he feels as though got the toughest schedules in the league for the 2026 season. Here is why he put the Chargers among them:
“After beginning the season with the Raiders and Cardinals, the Chargers fall into a stretch of games against the Bills, Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans and Ravens. The Chargers will also finish the season with the 49ers, Chiefs and Broncos over a three-game stretch. But the major storyline here is a minus-22 net rest differential, which is the second-worst for any team in more than 20 years. Last year’s 49ers are a perfect example of how much this metric matters, having had a horrendous minus-20 net rest differential, only to have the league’s best in 2025. San Francisco was able to overcome a slew of injuries at critical positions to make a playoff run. In 2024? The team finished 6–11. The Chargers have four games against opponents coming off a bye in 2026 which is, you guessed it, tied for the worst in a 20-year stretch.”
In addition to everything Orr pointed out, there is another unfortunate challenge the Chargers will face this season. Los Angeles will face four teams (Chiefs, Texans, Patriots, Raiders) who will be rested coming off of their bye week. That is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the most in the NFL. Arguably the toughest stretch will be from Weeks 3-10, which the Chargers will play five out of seven games on the road.
Chargers Can’t Afford Any Let Downs in 2026
GettyChargers HC Jim Harbaugh and Texans HC DeMeco Ryans
With how difficult their schedule is, the Chargers must take care of business against teams they have a clear advantage over. The best part of Los Angeles’ schedule is beginning the season with home games against the Cardinals and Raiders, who each are in rebuilding mode and have first-year head coaches. Starting 2-0 will be crucial to the overall success of the season.
The Chargers also have very winnable games against the Jets, Dolphins, and their second matchup against Las Vegas. Although it will be a tall task, finishing out the season against the Chiefs and Broncos could earn L.A. the division title should it win both of those games. Unfortunately, SI’s Matt Verderame doesn’t think that’s going to happen.
“The Chargers didn’t upgrade many areas this offseason and lost a few key pieces: edge rusher Odafe Oweh and receiver Keenan Allen. Oh, and the schedule is brutal. Starting in Week 3, Los Angeles will play the Bills, Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans and Ravens consecutively. They also finish the year with Kansas City and Denver. If the Chargers are going to get back into the playoffs, it’s going to be a long, hard road.”
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports' Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch's career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch