The Los Angeles Chargers schedule release is coming up on May 14, and knowing their social media team, we’re probably in for an insane video.
As we don’t yet know the dates of the games but know the opponents, as I did last year, I’m going to predict which ones the Chargers must win to make sure their season stays on track.
Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans
The Chargers didn’t go out the best way at the end of last season against the Texans. The offensive line couldn’t protect quarterback Justin Herbert, who got sacked four times.
Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had an interception while defensive end Denico Autry was responsible for one of those four sacks.
Thank goodness for wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who had a touchdown during the fourth quarter to give them some life, but it was a slog.
This season, the Chargers will have new offensive weapons on the receiving and running back side, so if the offensive line is set, especially the center and left guard positions, they should be in better shape to win this time around.
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The Texans, too, will have even more offensive weapons like rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins and some new veteran defensive pieces like safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who the Texans got in a trade from the Eagles during the offseason.
And you can’t forget about quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is always a worry in these matchups.
They’ll also be facing a former teammate who was a big help on special teams, linebacker Nick Niemann.
The Chargers have to wash away the bad taste of that playoff loss last season, so this is a necessary win for 2025.
Chargers vs Steelers
The Steelers’ matchup in Week 3 last year was a disaster for the Chargers. Right tackle Joe Alt sprained his MCL in that game while Herbert was already nursing an ankle injury that got worse in the matchup. And when backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke had to step in for Herbert, things kept going downhill.
Week 3 also marked the Chargers’ worst pass blocking grade of the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) (32.8%).
Their overall defense grade was also its lowest (53.4%). Former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields had one of his best games that week with 245 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown.
The Chargers can hopefully slow down the Steelers quarterback this year, especially since it’s unclear if they’ll have such a mobile player in that spot.
The Steelers continue to have some defensive powerhouses like safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Alex Highsmith, along with the ever-relentless linebacker T.J. Watt, who gave the Chargers a hell of a time last year.
Besides safety Juan Thornhill, who was added in the offseason, there are other new defensive pieces on the Steelers, such as rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, who was drafted with their 21st pick in the first round.
There are also new offensive additions like veteran wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.
Players like outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu have a lot of work ahead of them in this game. And the offensive line is really going to be put to the test. The Chargers not only have to redeem themselves from last season, but new LA running back Najee Harris will also be facing his former team for the first time, so there’s even more pressure to come out with a W.
Chargers vs Chiefs
The Chargers play the Chiefs twice, both home and away, and for a few seasons now, the Chiefs have been the one that got away. The games between these two are always epic, and many have ended up really close, but the Chargers haven’t been able to win.
Week 14 last year was another heartbreaker when the Chargers lost 19-17, and linebacker Daiyan Henley missed the tackle on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce got the reception to get them in field goal range. And with that win, the Chiefs won the division.
Similar to Week 11 of 2022, when Kelce evaded safety Derwin James Jr. in the fourth to get the touchdown and the Chiefs won 30 to 27.
So the Chargers have to win, preferably both matchups, to really prove that they can be contenders in this division.
The Chiefs have some of their old standbys like Kelce, defensive end George Karlaftis, and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Mahomes may have some new protection in rookie offensive tackle Josh Simmons, who’s working back from a knee injury.
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The Chiefs also brought over some veterans, like running back Kareem Hunt and some former Chargers players, like running back Elijah Mitchell and cornerback Kristian Fulton.
Ultimately, the Chargers are never going to succeed if they can’t slay this dragon, so fingers crossed this will be the year to finally outplay Kansas City.
Chargers vs Raiders
The Chargers beat the Raiders in both of their 2024 matchups, and they should keep that same energy going into this current season.
The vibe on the Raiders seems to have completely changed with the addition of head coach Pete Carroll. And he’s already started out strong with the draft in picking running back Ashton Jeanty, who was at the top of many mock drafts, and rightfully so, as he had over 2,200 rushing yards during the regular season last year and 28 rushing touchdowns.
The Raiders have been missing that spark for the running game since the departure of Josh Jacobs, so Jeanty is a much-needed piece.
The run defense will have to be so solid for the Chargers to contend with Jeanty, but luckily, Henley and James will be up to the task, along with others like linebacker Denzel Perryman.
James and players like cornerback Tarheeb Still and safety Alohi Gilman will also be needed to contain another new rookie drafted by the Raiders, wide receiver Jack Bech, who had over 1,000 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.
Additionally, the Raiders always have some fearsome defensive players like defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, and Koonce will be back after being out last year with a knee injury to pick up where he left off with some dominant pass rushing.
The Chargers managed to give Herbert enough protection last season through those two games against the Raiders and have other pieces this year to lean on offensively as well as defensively, so they should be able to come out on top against their division rival.
Chargers vs Eagles
What better way for the Chargers to prove they’re ready to take home the Lombardi than by beating the defending Super Bowl champs?
They’ll need everything in their arsenal to contend with the Eagles as they have a mobile quarterback in Jalen Hurts, an insanely talented running back in Saquon Barkley, and some scary wide receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
They also have some dogs on the defense in cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and linebacker Zack Baun, who had a heck of a season last year with 93 solo tackles in the regular season alone, and defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who had a career high 27 STOPs during the regular 2024 season.
The Eagles also added to this unit by drafting linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who had a career-high seven sacks in the 2024 regular season.
Much like the games against the Chiefs, this will be the ultimate test as to whether the Chargers can be contenders. They’ll need to stop the run, the “tush pushes”, and explosive plays to be successful.
On another note, it’ll be the first time that offensive lineman Mekhi Becton goes against his old team, so there’s even more reason for the Chargers to be victorious.