You're probably looking for the Bolts. It's Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, and if you’re asking who do the San Diego Chargers play today, the answer is actually a bit of a bummer for the "Bolt Fam."
The team—now officially the Los Angeles Chargers, of course—isn't on the field today. Their 2025-2026 season hit a wall exactly two weeks ago. After a rollercoaster 11-6 regular season under Jim Harbaugh, they went into Foxborough for the Wild Card round and got stuck in the mud. The New England Patriots bounced them with a 16-3 scoreline.
Where the Chargers Stand This Playoff Sunday
It’s Divisional Round weekend. The elite of the elite are still grinding, but the Chargers are back in El Segundo starting their "offseason evaluation."
Today’s NFL schedule features the Houston Texans taking on those same Patriots who knocked LA out, followed by a primetime clash between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Seeing the Rams still playing while the Chargers are home has to sting for local fans.
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Honestly, the Wild Card loss was weird. Justin Herbert played through a broken left hand—an injury he picked up late in the season—and the offense just couldn't find the end zone. One field goal. That’s all they mustered. It felt like a massive letdown after Harbaugh had everyone believing this was the year they’d finally bully their way through the AFC.
The 2026 Road Ahead: It’s Not Getting Easier
Since they aren't playing today, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 schedule. It was just finalized a few days ago, and it looks like a gauntlet.
Because they finished second in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos, their "strength of schedule" for next year is technically top-10 in terms of difficulty. They’ve got some brutal road trips on the horizon.
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- The 2026 Away Slate: They have to travel to Buffalo, Seattle, and Baltimore.
- The SoFi Home Games: We’re looking at visits from the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
- The "Battle of LA": They’ll technically "visit" the Rams at SoFi Stadium for one of their away games next year.
Why the Chargers Missed Today's Divisional Round
Most experts pointed to the attrition. By Week 18, the Chargers were missing key pieces of their offensive line. Herbert was gutsy, but you can only do so much when you're under constant fire and your hand is in a cast.
They also struggled within their own division when it mattered most. Losing that final Week 18 game to the Broncos—even if it was labeled "meaningless" by some because their seed was locked—seemed to sap the momentum they had built during their mid-season win streak.
Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz are already in "roster surgery" mode. They need more explosive playmakers. Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston showed flashes this year, but the lack of a consistent "take the top off" threat was glaring in that playoff loss to New England.
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What to Watch Today Instead
If you were hoping to see the Chargers today, you might want to keep an eye on the Texans vs. Patriots game at 3:00 PM ET. It’s a bit of a "what could have been" scenario for LA.
The Texans are playing with the kind of aggressive, young energy the Chargers were supposed to have. Then there’s the Rams game at 6:30 PM ET. It’s a cold one in Chicago. Seeing how the Rams' offense handles the "Monsters of the Midway" might give Chargers fans some insight into what they need to fix before their 2026 matchup with the Bears.
Actionable Steps for Chargers Fans
Since there's no game to watch, here's how to stay plugged in during the hiatus:
- Audit the Draft Board: With a second-place finish, the Chargers will likely pick in the late teens or early twenties. Focus on interior defensive line and speed at wide receiver.
- Track Herbert’s Recovery: The broken hand shouldn't require surgery, but his health is the only thing that matters for 2026.
- Watch the Divisional Winners: Pay attention to how the Broncos and Chiefs play this weekend. That's the bar the Chargers have to clear to actually be playing on this Sunday next year.
The season is over, but the Harbaugh era is just getting started. It’s a long wait until September.