3 guaranteed wins on the Chargers 2024 schedule

LA Chargers fans are brimming with cautious optimism that the boys in powder blue will rebound from a disappointing 2023 campaign when they finished 5-12.

Not only are the Bolts ushering in a new era on the sidelines with National Champion head coach Jim Harbaugh, but superstar quarterback Justin Herbert will also return to the huddle after suffering a season-ending injury to his right index finger. The presence of a culture-changing coach and an exceptionally talented quarterback are two vital ingredients to the recipe for success.

The aforementioned duo is forecast to bolster the Chargers win total from a season ago. But helping matters is a trio of matches on their schedule that the Bolts, and their fans, should pencil in as guaranteed victories.

Week 2 at Carolina Panthers

Panthers are coming off an abysmal 2023 campaign, and the gloomiest cloud hanging over them was Bryce Young’s dreadful rookie season. The former first-overall draft pick is facing heaps of pressure to improve from his awful first year and put any ‘bust’ conversations in the rearview mirror. 

Dave Canales enters his first season as head coach of the Panthers, and has a recent history of turning around the careers of middling quarterbacks. He was the Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach for Geno Smith’s resurgent 2022 campaign before helping Baker Mayfield resurrect his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. 

While his resume with quarterbacks is promising, Canales still has to rectify a squad that finished 2-15 last season. The Chargers face the Panthers very early in the season when Carolina will likely be working through several growing pains. Expect a Chargers win when the two teams collide in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sept. 15. 

Week 7 at Arizona Cardinals

2023 was forgettable for the Arizona Cardinals, but there is a beacon of hope arriving. Not only is Quarterback Kyler Murray expected to return to full health, ultra-hyped rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. should add an immediate jolt to an attack in dire need of explosiveness.

The rest of the Cardinals roster, however, leaves a lot to be desired. 2024 sixth-overall pick Paris Johnson should be an immediate upgrade at the left tackle position. And free safety Budda Baker is a stalwart in their defensive backfield. Aside from that, there are glaring holes across Arizona's depth chart, especially defensively. Do not expect last season's 25th-ranked defense to stall the Chargers offense.

And if it is anything like the last time the Chargers visited Arizona in 2022, there should be a boisterous sea of powder blue scattered throughout State Farm Stadium, giving the Chargers a boost on the road on Oct. 10 in primetime.

Week 17 at New England Patriots

2024 marks the dawn of a new era in Foxborough, Mass., as Jerod Mayo takes over the head coaching reigns from six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. Unfortunately for the rookie head coach, he is inheriting a team that finished 4-13 last season and still has an offense devoid of game-breaking talent.

The arrival of rookie quarterback Drake Maye brings a glimmer of hope to Pats fans wishing for a vastly improved aerial attack. The 21-year-old was drafted third overall and boasts the traits to potentially become a top-flight starter in the NFL. But the supporting cast around him is uninspiring.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, and Kendrick Bourne highlight a lackluster Patriots receiving corps. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson could give this offense some juice on the ground, as he is two seasons removed from his first 1,000-yard rushing season. But new Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter should have no issue devising a game plan to shut down this attack.

Despite that, New England's defense could fluster the Bolts' attack. Mayo is expected to maintain the defensive culture that has been at the core 1 Patriot Place during the Belichick era. Helping matters is a talented unit featuring cornerback Christian Gonzalez, linebacker Matthew Judon, and defensive end Christian Barmore. But the Patriots' offensive insufficiencies will be too much for their defense to mask when they clash with the Chargers on Dec. 29.