If you're frantically Googling what time is the charger game tomorrow because you’re looking to catch Justin Herbert and the crew in action this Monday, January 19, 2026, I have some tough news for you.
There isn't a game.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer for the Bolt Fam, but the Los Angeles Chargers' season officially hit a wall last week. While the NFL Divisional Round is currently in full swing, the Chargers are already looking toward the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. If you saw the score from Foxborough last Sunday, you know exactly why the Monday night slot is empty for LA fans.
The Wild Card Heartbreak in Foxborough
To understand why there's no game tomorrow, we have to look back at January 11. The Chargers headed into Gillette Stadium as the No. 7 seed to face the No. 2 seeded New England Patriots.
It was ugly.
The Patriots' defense basically lived in the Chargers' backfield all night. The final score was 16-3, a defensive slugfest that saw LA struggle to find any rhythm. That loss officially eliminated the Chargers from the 2025-26 postseason. Because they were knocked out in the Wild Card round, their jerseys are already in the laundry and the players are likely heading out for off-season vacations.
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Who Is Playing Tomorrow?
Since you were likely looking for football to watch on Monday, January 19, 2026, there is a massive game happening, just not in the NFL.
Tomorrow night is the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Indiana Hoosiers are taking on the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. This is basically the biggest event in sports this week since the NFL takes Monday off during the playoffs to let the college kids have the spotlight.
- Game: Indiana vs. Miami (CFP National Championship)
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
If you're strictly an NFL fan, you’ve got a week to wait. The Conference Championships (the AFC and NFC title games) aren't scheduled until Sunday, January 25.
Why People Are Confused About the Chargers Schedule
It’s easy to get mixed up. Usually, the NFL tries to dominate every day of the week, but the "Monday Night Football" branding doesn't typically extend deep into the Divisional Round.
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The NFL Divisional games were split between Saturday, January 17, and today, Sunday, January 18.
Today’s lineup featured:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET)
If you saw "Los Angeles" on the ticker earlier today, it was the Rams, not the Chargers. The "other" LA team managed to advance further this year, which is always a bitter pill for Chargers fans to swallow.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since you're wondering what time is the charger game tomorrow and realizing the season is over, you’re probably already thinking about "next year."
The 2026 opponents are already set, even if the exact dates won't be announced by the NFL until May. We know the Chargers will be hosting some heavy hitters at SoFi Stadium next season. Expect home games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders (as usual), but they also have the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots coming to town.
The road schedule looks brutal. They have to travel to Buffalo, Miami, and Baltimore. If the Chargers want to avoid another early exit in 2027, they’ll need to figure out the offensive line issues that plagued them in that playoff loss to New England.
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What to Do Instead of Watching the Chargers
Since your Monday night just cleared up, you might want to keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of the building. The end-of-season press conferences usually happen right about now.
Keep a lookout for news on:
- Draft Position: Since the Chargers lost in the Wild Card round with an 11-7 record, they’ll likely be picking in the late teens or early twenties.
- Coaching Staff: Rumors always swirl after a 3-point playoff performance.
- Free Agency: With the cap expected to rise again in 2026, the Chargers might have some room to bring in a veteran receiver.
Basically, stop looking for a kickoff time for tomorrow. Instead, start scouting the top wide receivers in the upcoming draft.
To stay ahead of the next cycle, your best bet is to bookmark the official NFL transactions page. The "legal tampering" period for free agency doesn't start until March, but the Chargers will be making "futures contract" signings throughout this week. It’s not as exciting as a playoff game, but it’s the only Chargers news you’re getting until the spring.