By all measures, the Los Angeles Chargers should be expected to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026.
Even with a difficult schedule, they have all of the pieces they need in place. A new offensive scheme under Mike McDaniel should unlock the structure they weren't able to access last season, maximizing Justin Herbert's talents through a revamped run game and a quicker passing approach. They've re-structured the entirety of the interior of their offensive line, and both the floor and ceiling for Herbert's protection should be much higher.
Although there's room for some regression on the defensive side of the ball under Chris O'Leary, the Chargers have the talent and the infrastructure to maintain their dominance on that side of the ball as well.
But the NFL clearly thinks they have something to prove in 2026. Los Angeles, after playing in five primetime games last season, only received three on their schedule this year.
At the end of the day, TV slots don't matter. Winning does. But it's clear that the playoff failures of the last two seasons have hurt the Chargers' perception as contenders, and they must prove themselves this season if they want to be elevated into that status in the eyes of the league as a whole.
The Chargers must prove themselves as true Super Bowl contenders in 2026
Three primetime games, no matter how you spin it, is somewhat disappointing. That's obviously less than some of the league's most exciting teams, but it's also less than the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders— all of whom outside of Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last season.
Each of Los Angeles' three primetime opportunities will provide some serious intrigue, however.
Their first is a Week 10 road date against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. It will be the Chargers' first opportunity to get a crack at former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, and it could prove to be a pivotal point in the season for both teams. Their second will be a Week 12 revenge-game opportunity against the New England Patriots at SoFi Stadium. Their third will be a Week 15 Thursday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who should rebound formidably from their injury-riddled 2025 campaign.
But that leaves all of the Chargers divisional games off the primetime slate as well as their matchups with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
For a team that scored just 15 points in its last two playoff appearances, this would typically be a fair judgement to levy on the part of the league. But Los Angeles' ceiling in 2026 is so much higher than that.
If the Chargers are able to enter true contention this season, they could quickly make the league regret their stance.
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