The Chargers 2026 schedule will be out soon, but the opponents are already determined for next season.
The Chargers will play their regular division opponents as well as teams from the AFC East and NFC West in 2026.
They will then host the same place finisher in the AFC South as well as travel to play the the same place finishers from the AFC North and NFC South.
Here are the Chargers 2026 opponents:
Chargers Home Opponents
Denver Broncos
The Chargers Week 3 fourth-quarter rally over the Broncos was perhaps the most thrilling home game at SoFi Stadium in 2025. Down by a touchdown, Justin Herbert led a game-tying drive before Cameron Dicker hit a walk-off, 43-yard field at the buzzer. This should once again be an epic clash against two teams with their sights set on an AFC West title.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs return to Southern California after the teams played in Brazil to open the 2025 season. Kansas City spent its first four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on defensive players, including selecting a pair of cornerbacks, so keep an eye on how new Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel has his group prepared for that new-look unit.
Las Vegas Raiders
Will we see No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at SoFi Stadium? That all depends on when the game is and whether the rookie quarterback is in the starting lineup by then. The Chargers have won five straight home games against the Raiders, a stretch where the Bolts defense has held Las Vegas to 20 points or fewer in each game.
New York Jets
The Jets will return to SoFi Stadium for the first time since 2020 as the Bolts look for their sixth straight win over New York. The Jets tied for the NFL's worst record at 3-14 a year ago and selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall, one of three first-round selections New York made in 2026.
New England Patriots
The Chargers and Patriots will meet in a rematch of their Wild Card game from January, and you can bet the Bolts offense will be motivated to put together a better showing than what we saw in the postseason. The Chargers will also be looking for their first win over New England at SoFi Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals
The Chargers will look to be ready for a Cardinals team that employs a new head coach (Mike LaFleur) after ending the 2025 season on a league-worst, nine-game losing streak. The Bolts defense will key on some exciting young offensive playmakers, including recent No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love at running back.
San Francisco 49ers
These California teams haven't met since 2022 and the 49ers have never played the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. But there should be plenty of intrigue for this one given the talent level each team possesses on both sides of the ball.
Houston Texans
Hello again, Houston. The Chargers and Texans will meet for the second straight season and third time since January of 2025 if you include their Wild Card playoff matchup. The Bolts offense will face one of its toughest tasks of the season against a stout Texans defense, while the Chargers defense will have their hands full against quarterback CJ Stroud and Co.
Chargers Road Opponents
Denver Broncos
The Chargers had lost 10 of the past 11 contests in Denver before getting a win in 2025. The Bolts then played their backups in a meaningless Week 18 game last season, so Herbert and the rest of the Chargers regulars should be chomping at the bit to play in one of the best road environments across the league.
Kansas City Chiefs
Depending on when this game is scheduled, all eyes will be on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL against the Chargers at Arrowhead in December of 2025. Kansas City traded for quarterback Justin Fields this offseason as insurance.
Las Vegas Raiders
If Mendoza doesn't play against the Chargers this year, the Bolts will instead have to prepare for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. And with Maxx Crosby still on the Raiders roster after a nixed offseason trade, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will also need to be on point against one of the league's best pass rushers.
Buffalo Bills
Expect plenty of fireworks in this one as Herbert and Josh Allen meet for just second time in their respective careers. (Herbert was injured when the teams met in Week 16 of the 2023 season). Allen is a four-time Pro Bowler and was the 2024 NFL MVP who can beat defenses with both his arm and legs.
Miami Dolphins
All eyes will be on McDaniel in this one as he returns to Miami after spending the past four seasons as the Dolphins Head Coach. The Chargers needed some late-game heroics from Herbert, Ladd McConkey and Dicker in Week 6 of last season but will look for their second straight win in as many years at Hard Rock Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens
There won't be any shortage of storylines in this battle between two AFC teams with visions of a deep playoff run. From a coaching perspective, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will go up against Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter, who spent the past two seasons as the Chargers Defensive Coordinator. The McDaniel vs. Minter battle will be fascinating to watch with Herbert and Lamar Jackson leading each respective squad.
Seattle Seahawks
This road game against the defending Super Bowl champs might be the Chargers toughest game of any on the 2026 schedule. Seattle's ferocious defense and efficient offense just teamed up to win a title, and the Seahawks likely aren't going away anytime soon under Head Coach Mike Macdonald. How will Harbaugh's team stack up against Seattle?
Los Angeles Rams
The Chargers won't have to travel far for this away game but will be the road team in the Battle of LA at SoFi Stadium. The Bolts and Rams are among the eight teams with double-digit wins over the past two seasons and both teams have their sights on more success in 2026. We'll be watching how new Chargers Defensive Coordinator Chris O'Leary fares against Rams Head Coach Sean McVay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bolts will be trying to get off the schneid against the Bucs as they have lost four straight games against Tampa Bay. This is among the Chargers longest road trips of the season as they face a Buccaneers squad that just missed the playoffs a year ago. And it will be a reunion between Chargers first-round pick Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain, Jr., his college running mate who was picked 15th overall by Tampa Bay.
