As the Los Angeles Chargers gear up for the 2026 season, they face a challenging slate of 14 different opponents. With a combined opponent win percentage of .522 from last season, the Bolts have the ninth-hardest schedule in the league. But how have they fared historically against these teams? Let's dive into the all-time head-to-head records and recent matchups to see where the Chargers stand.
Starting with the NFC West, the Chargers hold a solid 11–5 all-time record against the Arizona Cardinals, though they dropped their last meeting in 2024, 17–15. Against the San Francisco 49ers, the series is dead even at 8–8, with the 49ers winning the most recent clash in 2022, 22–16. The Seattle Seahawks lead the all-time series 27–25, and they also took the last game in 2022, 37–23. As for the Los Angeles Rams, the Chargers have a narrow 6–7 record but claimed a dominant 31–10 victory in their last meeting in 2023.
Moving to the AFC East, the Chargers have a tough history with the New England Patriots, trailing 17–28–2 all-time and losing their last game in 2026, 16–3. Against the Buffalo Bills, they hold a strong 25–14–2 record, though Buffalo won their most recent matchup in 2023, 24–22. The Miami Dolphins series is close at 17–20, but the Chargers edged them in 2025, 29–27. Meanwhile, the New York Jets have been a favorable opponent, with Los Angeles leading 23–14–1 and winning their last game in 2023, 27–6.
In the AFC North, the Chargers struggle against the Baltimore Ravens, with a 6–10 all-time record and a 30–23 loss in 2024. They also have a losing mark against the Cincinnati Bengals, though that team isn't on the 2026 schedule. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are not listed, but the Ravens remain a key test.
Turning to the AFC South, the Chargers have a slight 6–5 edge over the Houston Texans, with their last meeting in 2025 ending in a 20–16 Texans win. The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are not on the schedule, but the Texans provide a competitive matchup.
In the AFC West, the Chargers have a historic rivalry with the Denver Broncos, trailing 58–74–1 all-time and losing their last game in 2026, 19–3. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, they are 60–71–1 but won their most recent clash in 2025, 16–13. The Las Vegas Raiders series is tight at 62–69–2, but the Chargers took the last game in 2025, 31–14. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an NFC South opponent, lead the all-time series 8–5 and won their last meeting in 2024, 40–17.
With a mix of historic rivalries and recent momentum, the Chargers' 2026 schedule offers plenty of opportunities to rewrite the record books. Will they rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.