The Chargers schedule for the 2022 season has officially been released as we now know who the Chargers are playing in each week of the 2022 season as well as what time and what games will be on primetime.
The Chargers are one of the most exciting teams in the league with one of the best young quarterbacks in Justin Herbert. Add that to the fact that they play in the uber-competitive AFC West and are in the second-largest market in the United States and they are a clear candidate for a lot of primetime games.
How many primetime games are on the LA Chargers schedule in 2022?
The NFL obviously showed some favoritism to the Chargers as they are going to play in five primetime games during the 2022 season. There is also the potential of the team's Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos to get flexed into primetime depending on the playoff implications.
Last season the Bolts were scheduled three primetime games and played a fourth time on primetime when the Week 18 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders was flexed to Sunday Night Football. The Bolts are tied for the most primetime games as 13 teams in total have five primetime games.
Breaking down the primetime games on the Chargers schedule:
Week 2 at Kansas City Chiefs (TNF)
This was a primetime game we knew about before the 2022 schedule was announced as it was announced during the NFL Draft. This is the first Thursday Night Football game that will be exclusively shown on Amazon and it is fitting that it is between two of the most entertaining teams in the league.
Having a short week this early in the season is not as impactful as having a short week later in the season and it helps that the Chargers will be at home in Week 1 against the Raiders. The Raiders are a tough opponent, but this helps LA set the tone.
Week 6 vs. Denver Broncos (MNF)
Poor Russell Wilson has to play primetime Justin Herbert in his first game against the Chargers as a member of the Broncos. There is not a better spot for the Chargers to play the Broncos for a first time as primetime at home is going to get the guys juiced.
The Broncos are definitely a tough team but they are tougher when they are at home. If the Chargers play to their potential, they can beat each of their AFC West foes to set the table by Week 6.
Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers (SNF)
A Super Bowl rematch 26 years in the making. The Chargers have had a lot of recent success against the 49ers and this game is really compelling. We don't even know who is going to be quarterbacking the 49ers in this game. Could it be Trey Lance or will it still be Jimmy G?
The good thing about this game is that the team's circadian rhythm shouldn't be off as it is a primetime game on the West Coast. The Bolts will be coming back from Atlanta and while it is a road game, they get to at least come home after that road game.
Week 16 at Indianapolis Colts (MNF)
This is an interesting game as it was not one I was penciling in to be a primetime game in 2022. The Chargers and Colts have had a lot of great matchups over the years but the Colts are a weird team heading into 2022 and there are more intriguing matchups.
That being said, the AFC South is so bad that the Colts should be comfortably atop the division while the Chargers should (hopefully) be atop the AFC West. Two division leaders in a playoff preview is really easy to sell.
The one interesting part about this game is that it is the day after Christmas. It will be interesting to see if the team stays home for Christmas and flies out late Sunday night, or if they spent Christmas weekend in Indy.
READ OUR GAME-BY-GAME 2022 PREDICTIONS HERE
Week 17 vs. LA Rams (SNF)
This was such an easy primetime game for the league to make. The NFL is saving the battle of Los Angeles for the second-to-last week of the season and by then, the Chargers and Rams should be two teams who have really good chances of making the Super Bowl.
This will be touted as a potential Super Bowl matchup and the fireworks should live up to the matchup. Rams fans have not been the best in showing up for their own home games, so it will be interesting to see what the fan split is in this game.