The question of what time do the chargers play usually has a simple answer involving a kickoff clock and a TV channel. But right now, things are a little quiet at SoFi Stadium. If you’re checking the schedule today, January 18, 2026, you won’t find Justin Herbert taking snaps. The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2025-2026 campaign officially hit a wall last week in the freezing rain of Foxborough.
It was a tough pill to swallow. After an 11-6 regular season that saw the "Bolts" look like legitimate contenders, they ran into a buzzsaw New England Patriots team in the Wild Card round. That 16-3 loss on January 11 effectively turned off the lights on the season.
So, while the divisional round is currently in full swing—with the Texans and Patriots kicking off at 3:00 PM ET today—the Chargers are already looking toward the draft.
Breaking Down the 2026 Chargers Schedule Wait
Honestly, the NFL is a year-round machine, even when your team isn't on the field. While we don't have exact kickoff times for the 2026 regular season yet, we actually know exactly who they are playing. The NFL uses a rotating formula, so the mystery is mostly about the "when," not the "who."
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We are currently in that weird limbo period. The league won't release the official 2026 schedule with dates and specific times until mid-May. Usually, that big schedule release show happens on a Wednesday or Thursday night. Until then, any site claiming to know if a Week 4 game starts at 1:05 PM or 5:20 PM is basically just guessing.
The 2026 Home Slate
When the schedule finally drops, Chargers fans are going to see some heavy hitters coming to Los Angeles. Based on the 2026 formula, the following teams are slated to visit SoFi Stadium:
- The AFC West Rivals: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Las Vegas Raiders. These are the guaranteed home games every single year.
- The AFC East: New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Yes, the Chargers will get a chance for revenge against the team that just knocked them out of the playoffs.
- The NFC West: Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. That Niners game is almost certainly going to be a primetime candidate.
- The Performance-Based Matchup: The Houston Texans. Because both teams finished in a similar spot in their respective divisions, they’ll face off in LA.
Going on the Road
Traveling is always a bear for West Coast teams. Next season, the Chargers have some brutal flights on the books. They’ll head out to face the Bills in Buffalo and the Dolphins in Miami. They also have a date with the Baltimore Ravens, which usually means a physical, smash-mouth game that tests Herbert’s durability.
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Why Kickoff Times Change (Flex Scheduling)
If you've ever asked what time do the chargers play on a Tuesday and then found out the time was different by Saturday, you’ve been "flexed." The NFL is obsessed with ratings. Starting in Week 5, the league can move games from the afternoon into the Sunday Night Football slot on NBC.
Basically, if the Chargers are 8-2 and playing a massive game against the Chiefs, the NFL isn't going to let that stay at 1:25 PM PT. They’ll move it to 5:20 PM PT to make sure the whole country is watching. In 2026, the "Monday Night Football" flex is also in play, meaning even your Monday plans aren't safe if the Bolts are playing high-stakes football.
Navigating the Offseason Milestones
Since there's no game today, the "schedule" for a Chargers fan shifts to the front office. Here is how the next few months look while we wait for the 2026 kickoff:
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- The Scouting Combine (Late February): This is where the 2026 roster starts to take shape in Indianapolis.
- Free Agency (Mid-March): The "legal tampering" period starts, and we see if the Chargers can find some help for the secondary.
- The 2026 NFL Draft (Late April): This is the biggest day of the offseason.
- The Official Schedule Release (May): This is when we finally get the answer to what time do the chargers play for every single week of the season.
Dealing with the 2026 "International" Factor
There’s a growing rumor that the Chargers might be headed back overseas in 2026. The NFL has been aggressive about the International Series. With the Chargers being a "big market" team with a superstar QB, they are prime candidates for a London or Munich game. If that happens, be prepared for a 6:30 AM PT kickoff. It’s a literal wake-up call for fans in California, but it's part of the modern NFL experience.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since the Chargers aren't playing today, you can still get ahead of the 2026 season.
- Audit your streaming services: The 2025 season saw games scattered across Amazon Prime, Peacock, and YouTube. Check which subscriptions you can pause during the offseason to save a few bucks.
- Update your calendar for May: Set a reminder for the second week of May. That’s when the NFL drops the full 2026 calendar, and you can actually start booking trips for away games.
- Track the Salary Cap: Keep an eye on the "effective cap space" for the Chargers on sites like OverTheCap. This will tell you if they can actually afford the big-name free agents fans are clamoring for.
The 2025 season might be over, but the road to the 2026 opener has already started. We'll be right back here in September asking about kickoff times again. Until then, enjoy the rest of the playoffs—even if it's a little bittersweet watching from the couch.