Chargers' road to AFC West dominance just became infinitely more difficult

At this time in the offseason, few things provide more room for intrigue than the release of the NFL schedule. For the Los Angeles Chargers, who are counting on a new offensive scheme and a great number of personnel changes to catapult them into Super Bowl contention, this is doubly true.

So much of their ability to remain healthy and stay near the top of one of the most competitive divisions in football will depend upon their exact slate of games. There's still ample reason to be optimistic about what Los Angeles can do in 2026 given the successes they've had this offseason.

But the release of the full schedule has put a damper on things, at least for now.

We already knew the schedule was going to be difficult, with matchups slated against the AFC East and the NFC West this season, but the exact order provides more clarity on just how difficult certain stretches of the season will be.

2026 schedule release has the Chargers facing a pair of brutal stretches

The Chargers' schedule in 2025 was by no means easy, and they still pounded out 11 wins in spite of the injuries that plagued their roster. 2026's is almost certainly worse, though.

They'll begin the season with a pair of easy matchups against the Arizona Cardinals and the (probably) Kirk Cousins-led Las Vegas Raiders. If the Chargers offense comes out of the gates hot, these should ideally be lay-ups.

After that, though, a four-game stretch against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs will immediately put both new coordinators to the test. Three of these matchups will be on the road. There's a chance that all four of these offenses will be some of the most potent in the NFL, and Chris O'Leary will need to have his unit in top shape by the time Los Angeles reaches Week 3.

A Week 7 bye will provide the Chargers with an early reprieve, but that only leaves room for an absolutely brutal post-bye slate. The Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens defenses will likely be among the top units this season. The matchups with Seattle and Denver will certainly be tough, but this is where we might be able to see what the new offensive line is truly made of.

The schedule gets significantly easier after that, but the NFL did the Chargers no favors with their travel schedule either. In Week 13, they'll head to the East Coast to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, only to head back home for a pair of West Coast matchups before setting out east again for a road matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

If the Chargers are able to post a respectable record by the time they get through Week 10, the odds will be in their favor. But if they get off to a rough start, things could quickly turn south in terms of meeting their expectations in 2026.

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