The NFL schedule is a weird, moving target. If you’re asking who do chargers play, you’re likely looking for two very different answers depending on if you care about the immediate playoff heartbreak or the long-term 2026 outlook. We just watched Jim Harbaugh’s squad wrap up a rollercoaster 11-6 regular season. It was a year of "what ifs." They were chasing the AFC West crown until the very end, but a rough slide in the final two weeks—dropping games to the Texans and Broncos—pushed them down the seeding ladder.
Right now, the answer is simple but daunting. The Los Angeles Chargers are the No. 7 seed in the AFC. Their next opponent? The New England Patriots. They have to travel to Foxborough to face Drake Maye in the Wild Card round. It’s a tough draw, especially after losing 16-3 to those same Patriots just a few days ago on January 11, 2026.
But football fans are planners. Once the postseason dust settles, the 2026 regular-season opponents are already locked in thanks to the NFL’s rotating scheduling formula. Even without the exact dates and kickoff times—which the league won’t drop until May—we know exactly who is coming to SoFi Stadium and where the Bolts are heading.
Breaking Down the 2026 Opponents
The 2026 season is going to be a gauntlet. Because the Chargers finished second in the AFC West, their "placement" games are matched against other second-place finishers. This means they don't just play their division; they get a heavy dose of the AFC East and the NFC West this time around.
✨ Don't miss: Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big 12 Grind
Home Games at SoFi Stadium
Expect the parking lots at SoFi to be packed. The home slate is heavy on star power and legacy franchises.
- The AFC West Rivals: You already know the drill. The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Las Vegas Raiders will all visit Inglewood.
- The AFC East Visitors: Both the New York Jets and the New England Patriots are scheduled to fly West.
- The NFC West Cross-Conference Games: This is where it gets fun for local fans. The Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers are on the docket.
- The Standing-Based Game: Since the Chargers took second in the west, they host the second-place team from the AFC South, which is the Houston Texans.
Road Trips and Away Venues
The travel schedule looks brutal. The Chargers are notorious for racking up air miles, and 2026 won't be an exception.
- Divisional Away: Trips to Mile High (Denver), Arrowhead (Kansas City), and Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas).
- The AFC East Swing: They have to head to Buffalo to face the Bills and down to Miami for the Dolphins.
- The NFC West Swing: A "road" game that isn't really a road game against the Los Angeles Rams, plus a noisy trip to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
- The Extra Matchups: Road games against the Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South).
Why the 2026 Matchups Matter
Honestly, looking at who do chargers play reveals a lot about the team's trajectory. Under Harbaugh, the identity has shifted. They want to be a "blue-collar" team in a "white-collar" town. This year showed they can win 11 games, but the late-season collapse against Houston and Denver raised some red flags about depth.
🔗 Read more: Chase Center: What Most People Get Wrong About the New Arena in San Francisco
The 2026 schedule doesn't offer many breathers. Facing the 49ers and the Bills in the same year is a nightmare for any defensive coordinator. Jesse Minter has kept this unit elite, but they’ll be tested by the sheer variety of offenses on the schedule next year—from the dual-threat chaos of Josh Allen to the clinical execution of Kyle Shanahan’s system.
The Quarterback Factor
Justin Herbert remains the centerpiece. In 2026, he’s going to have some incredible individual matchups. Think about Herbert vs. Lamar Jackson in Baltimore or the chess match against Patrick Mahomes. The Chargers actually managed to beat the Chiefs 16-13 in Week 15 of this past season, proving the gap is closing, but doing it twice in a year is the ultimate hurdle.
Navigating the NFL Scheduling Formula
A lot of people think the schedule is random or "rigged" for TV ratings. It’s actually just math. Basically, every team plays:
💡 You might also like: Calendario de la H: Todo lo que debes saber sobre cuando juega honduras 2025 y el camino al Mundial
- Six games against their own division (Home and Away).
- Four games against a division within their conference (The AFC East in 2026).
- Four games against a division in the other conference (The NFC West in 2026).
- Two games against teams in the remaining two divisions of their own conference that finished in the same spot in the standings (Ravens and Texans).
- One "extra" interconference game based on standings (The Buccaneers).
This is why we can predict the opponents years in advance. The only things that change are the specific teams in those "standing-based" slots.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the Bolts through the postseason and into next year, here’s how to handle it:
- Playoff Tickets: If you're heading to Foxborough for the Wild Card game, pack for sub-freezing temperatures. The Patriots' defense thrives in the cold, and the Chargers have historically struggled in January games on the East Coast.
- 2026 Season Tickets: If you’re a Season Ticket Member, your 2026 package will include nine regular-season home games. The Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers games will likely be the highest-demand tickets outside of the Chiefs matchup.
- Travel Planning: For away games, the trip to Seattle or the "away" game against the Rams are the easiest for SoFi regulars. If you want a vacation game, the trip to Tampa Bay in the fall is usually a fan favorite.
- Official Release: Keep an eye out in mid-May. That is when the NFL confirms the "Bye Week" and the prime-time slots. Given the Herbert-Harbaugh draw, expect at least three to four night games in 2026.
The Chargers are in a weird spot—good enough to win 11 games, but still looking for that "it" factor to finish the season strong. Knowing who do chargers play helps set the expectations, but as we saw this year, it's not about who is on the schedule; it's about who shows up in December and January.