The Chargers caught a bit of a break from the NFL schedule makers, who threw them a couple of winnable games to start the season at home against the Cardinals and on the road against the Raiders.
On paper, at least.
It gets much tougher from that point, as they go on the road against the Bills and Seahawks in Weeks 3 and 4. Even if they split those matchups, there is a real chance the Chargers can begin the year with a 3-1 record.
That would bode well with division games against the Broncos and Chiefs looming in Weeks 5 and 6.
All in all, it feels like a favorable schedule for the Bolts, who will be featured in two primetime games, first against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 12 at Sofi Stadium, and then in Week 15 against the 49ers on Thursday Night Football.
Here is a deeper look at the Chargers schedule:
Three toughest games
Week 3 at Bills
Between the Bills playing their inaugural season in their new stadium, Josh Allen presenting all sorts of issues, and the daunting task of making the cross-country trip to Buffalo, the Chargers face a tall task going back east and beating the Bills. The good news is they open against the Cardinals and Raiders, so they should be 2-0 when they head back east.
Week 4 at Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl champions pose a formidable threat anytime they play at home, with Lumon Field being one of the3 most daunting venues for opposing teams in the NFL. The weather should not be a problem at this point in the season, although the rain can come at any moment in the Pacific Northwest. The bigger issue will be the Seahawks’ ferocious pass rush, and the Chargers’ ability to protect Justin Herbert.
Week 8 at Rams
The Chargers will be the road team in their own stadium when they face the Rams at SoFi Stadium. Let’s face it, there is no love lost between a couple of franchises trying to grow their roots in Los Angeles, and the Rams will forever look at their neighbors as their little brothers. On top of that, they have one of the best rosters in the NFL. Expect a brutal fight at the mid.
Three easiest games
Week 1 vs. Cardinals
The Chargers could not have asked for a better opponent to start the season against than the Cardinals, who acted every bit this offseason like a team that is playing for a high draft pick next year. Playing in the rugged AFC West, it’s vital that the Bolts get off to a fast start. Playing the Cardinals almost guarantees that.
Week 11 vs. Jets
Barring some sort of big turnaround by new Jets quarterback Geno Smith, expect this to be another long year in Gotham for Gang Green. Like the Cardinals, they have their eyes on one of the top quarterbacks in next year’s draft. They aren’t officially tanking, but they aren’t acting like a club that’s all that eager to win this year.
Week 16 at Dolphins
New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley wants to build a tough, rugged, smart football team in Miami. But it’s going to take some time, and right now he just doesn’t have the horses to help orchestrate a quick turnaround. And don’t think for a second that new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who was the Dolphins head coach the last four years, won’t want to hang 35+ points on his former team.
When’s the bye?
The Chargers will get their break in Week 7, and it arrives at an opportune time, coming off a road game against the Chiefs, and two weeks before they play the Rams at SoFi Stadium. That is a nice little break ahead of their matchup against the Rams, who they share Sofi Stadium with.
Overall takeaway
The Chargers will make four trips to the East Coast, but will play just three playoff teams on those trips. However, the Ravens are led by new head coach and former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, and the Buccaneers are always in the thick of the NFC South, so those will be tough weekends for the Bolts. And that is on top of playing three playoff teams from the NFC West and their own division, which will be among the toughest in the NFL. It’s a difficult but manageable schedule.
Prediction: 11-6
