5 Things to Know About 2026 NFL Schedule Release

3. Why do they play those teams?

The Chargers will have their usual six games against AFC West foes, with home and away games against the Broncos, Chiefs and Raiders.

The rest of their opponents? They’re decided by a league-wide rotation that makes up eight of the games on the schedule.

This year, those divisions are slated to be the AFC East and NFC West.

The Chargers play the AFC East every three years, so the teams will all square off after doing so in 2023, with the difference being the home and away games from that season are switched.

Instead of traveling to face the Patriots and Jets, like they did in 2023, the Bolts will now host both at SoFi Stadium in 2026.

The AFC West also plays the NFC West every four years so it’s time for the Bolts go up against that division for the first time since 2022.

Similar to the others, the home and away games also rotate, meaning the Chargers will travel to Seattle for the first time since 2018.

The Chargers final three games are against teams that finished in the same spot in their respective divisions in 2025.

The Bolts will play a second-place schedule based on their 11-6 finish last season, which is why they were matched up against same-place finishers in Houston, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

4. What is the Chargers strength of schedule?

The Chargers are slated to have one of the league’s toughest schedules heading into 2026.

The Bolts 2026 opponents combined to go 151-138 for a .522 winning percentage, good for ninth in the NFL.

The Chargers will play eight games in 2026 against playoff teams from a year ago, with an even split of four at home and four on the road.

That group is made up of the Broncos (home and away), plus games against the 49ers, Patriots and Texans at home in addition to the Bills, Seahawks and Rams on the road.

Even with a second-place schedule, the Chargers have the third-toughest strength of schedule in the AFC West.

The Chiefs hold the toughest schedule in the division, and fifth overall, facing teams with a combine record of 155-134, while the Raiders are second in the AFC West, and seventh overall, facing a 153-136 overall record.

The Broncos round out the division ranking 15^th and facing teams with a combined record of 148-141.