The NFL schedule for the 2024 season has been released, and that means everyone is looking ahead to their team’s schedules and also certain marquee matchups. It is also never too early to do a schedule projection, so here is the prediction for the Los Angeles Chargers. They went into a soft rebuild of sorts this off-season with a new front office and head coach, but with Jim Harbaugh on the sideline now, that may help them over-perform compared to their roster strength. Will it be enough to compete for a playoff spot?
Los Angeles Chargers Schedule: Record Prediction
Week 1: vs Las Vegas Raiders
The Chargers get to open their season with a matchup against the divisional rival – the one that ended the previous regime. While it’s fair to say that the players had clearly given up at that point, it was still an embarrassment on primetime, so it’s fair to say that they’ll be out to make a statement. Given that the Raiders will be relying on Aidan O’Connell at quarterback and let Josh Jacobs walk, this should not prove overly difficult.
Prediction: Chargers win, 1-0 record
Week 2: @ Carolina Panthers
The Chargers schedule has some easier games early on. The Panthers are an absolute dumpster fire of a franchise right now. Their first-round quarterback is on bust watch and they have very little in the way of offensive weapons, and not much of an offensive line either. Their ownership is making them a laughingstock as well. If the Chargers are somehow unable to win this game, the season can safely be written off.
Prediction: Chargers win, 2-0 record
Week 3: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
This is the first game of the season where their opponent is likely to put up much fight. The Steelers may not look like much on paper, but they’ve been consistently finishing with 8-9 wins lately despite quarterback play ranging from average to mediocre. Even a past-his-prime Russell Wilson and Justin Fields should prove better than Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky, and they actually have some good skill players. It’s also on the road on the opposite coast – a situation that the Chargers historically struggle with.
Prediction: Chargers, lose 2-1 record
Week 4: vs Kansas City Chiefs
The Chargers are going all-in on building up the defense, offensive line, and running game under the Harbaugh regime. The trade-off has been a lack of proven good wide receivers. The result is that this is likely not going to be a team that can keep up with powerhouses like the defending Super Bowl champions. Justin Herbert is going to have to pull out his absolute best to stand a chance against the Chiefs, but it is unlikely to be enough this year.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 2-2 record
Week 6: @ Denver Broncos
One reason that the Chargers have any sort of fighting chance this season is that two of their divisional opponents this year are in even worse shape. The Chargers may not be star-studded on offense anymore, but at least they still have a top-tier quarterback. The Broncos have arguably the worst quarterback lineup in the league right now and have gotten rid of many of their best players – or made them disgruntled. This team may well have the #1 overall pick next year – they’ll be in good competition with the Panthers, anyway.
Prediction: Chargers win, 3-2 record
Week 7: @ Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have some talent on offense, but I am not sold on their current coaching situation – and Kyler Murray has taken a notable step back the last two years. Even when Murray came back from injury last year, they only went 3-5. This could be a close game, but getting the win should be manageable.
Prediction: Chargers win, 4-2 record
Week 8: vs New Orleans Saints
The Saints were basically the definition of average last year, and not much seems to have changed on their roster this year. This game could go either way – in part for that very reason. But if the Chargers can get sufficient pressure on Carr, they should be able to control the game.
Prediction: Chargers win, 5-2 record
Week 9: @ Cleveland Browns
The Browns are a team that managed to succeed despite a quarterback carousel and a myriad of injuries. Even if Deshaun Watson – who is a shell of his Houston self – is the one playing, this is going to be a tough matchup, because the Chargers will still have to deal with a strong running game and defense. Not to mention another trip across three time zones.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 5-3 record
Week 10: vs Tennessee Titans
The Titans are not looking to be in good shape this year. Will Levis shows some promise, but Derrick Henry is gone and the defense is iffy. This is another game that will likely come down to how much pressure the Chargers can generate on the opposing quarterback. If they fail to do that, the Titans do have a pretty solid wideout lineup, so that could be an issue.
Prediction: Chargers win, 6-3 record
Week 11: vs Cincinnati Bengals
Now begins a string of tougher games on the schedule. The Bengals were bogged down by injuries last year (mostly importantly their quarterback), but this is a tough team to contend with when healthy. Joe Burrow and a tough defense make them a formidable opponent. As said earlier, this team is not easily built right now to deal with powerhouses.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 6-4 record
Week 12: vs Baltimore Ravens
The Harbaugh Bowl – on primetime! Between the two brother head coaches duking it out and all the former Ravens that are now part of the Chargers, this is in the running for the most interesting game on the Chargers schedule. Unfortunately, John Harbaugh has the better roster overall right now – the Chargers have the better quarterback, but the Ravens have the better receivers and defense. The war of attrition here could help keep this close out, but the Chargers do feel outmatched here this year.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 6-5 record
Week 13: @ Atlanta Falcons
This is somewhat dependent on who’s at quarterback for the Falcons – but if it’s Kirk Cousins and he’s playing like his old self, this game could prove more difficult than one might expect. Keep in mind, this offense was already being held back last year by Arthur Smith before they added Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore. Imagine what could be done with them actually using their best weapons (Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts) – and with a good quarterback throwing to them. If this offense is performing to its potential, the Chargers may not be able to keep up.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 6-6 record
Week 14: @ Kansas City Chiefs
Facing the Bengals, Ravens, and Chiefs in a span of four weeks is a pretty tough stretch on the Chargers schedule. As said earlier, the Chargers simply do not have the firepower to keep up with the Chiefs right now – and it’s going to be even more difficult in Arrowhead.
Prediction: Chargers lose, 6-7 record
Week 15: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield’s resurgence was one of the bigger surprises of last year. It was also pretty much the only reason the Buccaneers scraped their way to the playoffs – that and horrific competition in their division. This is one of those cases where if they get to the opposing quarterback enough, they should be okay. If not, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin could give the secondary trouble.
Prediction: Chargers win, 7-7 record
Week 16: vs Denver Broncos
Essentially the only hope for the depending Broncos here is that Bo Nix has started hitting a stride by now. But even then, this Chargers defense should be able to handle most unseasoned rookie quarterbacks, given the level of pass rush they will have on hand.
Prediction: Chargers win, 8-7 record
Week 17: @ New England Patriots
Speaking of rookie quarterbacks, here comes another one – or at least, we assume Drake Maye will be starting by now, if not Week 1 to begin with. Maye will likely fare better than Nix and will have better weapons, but besides the point mentioned above about the pass rush against rookies, but this is another team in the middle of a total rebuild with a new regime – and it’s hard to see them turning things around this quickly.
Prediction: Chargers win, 9-7 record
Week 18: @ Las Vegas Raiders
The Chargers schedule gets easier at the end of the season with a few straight games against mostly subpar opponents. Now they get to end the season against a subpar divisional rival. Of course, the worst-case scenario here is that they’re in a win-and-in scenario and the Raiders manage to somehow shock them again. We’ll just pretend that’s not within the realm of possibility, shall we?
Prediction: Chargers win, 10-7 record
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
