The Chargers are heading into a demanding season, and the early part of the calendar doesn’t offer much breathing room. Training camp opens on July 28th, and from there Los Angeles will be staring down a schedule packed with tough opponents and a few matchups that stand out right away.
If the Chargers want to make a real playoff push, they’ll need to show they can handle pressure from the jump. That’s what makes this slate so interesting: it’s difficult, yes, but it also comes with a handful of games that should be must-watch for fans. Here are the five that jump off the page.
One of the biggest individual battles on the schedule is Derwin James Jr. against Brock Bowers. James was recently voted the second best safety in the NFL in an ESPN poll of coaches, scouts and front office executives, but that label doesn’t really capture what he’s become.
He’s been a second-team All-Pro from nickel corner the ast two seasons, and his work in the slot has made him one of the league’s best answers for elite tight ends. That includes Travis Kelce of the Chiefs, and now Bowers looks like the next challenge.
With Klint Kubiak running the offense in Las Vegas, Bowers against James could become one of the league’s best twice-a-year matchups.
The Texans also loom large, and for good reason. They’ve been a problem for the Chargers in recent seasons, mostly because Los Angeles’ offensive line hasn’t been able to hold up against Houston’s relentless defensive front.
The Texans have what can be described as arguably the best defensive roster in the NFL from top to bottom, and that makes this one a serious measuring stick. The Chargers have a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, and if this team is going to take a step forward, it has to be able to meet Houston head-on.
There’s also a fascinating chess match brewing with Kansas City. The Chargers swept the Chiefs in 2025, doing damage because Kansas City couldn’t get its run game going and had trouble moving the ball without its receivers taking big hits from the Chargers secondary.
The Chiefs responded by moving on from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and bringing back Eric Bieniemy this offseason. On the other side, Los Angeles lost defensive mastermind Jesse Minter to the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach opening and replaced him with former safeties coach Chris O'Leary.
That puts O'Leary in line to face Andy Reid and Bieniemy, an experienced pairing that should test him right away.
The Ravens matchup has its own built-in intrigue. It’s the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator against their previous defensive coordinator, and there are plenty of organizational ties connecting Los Angeles and Baltimore.
McDaniel had to deal with Minter and the 2025 Chargers defense while working with a limited Dolphins offense, and that history gives this one extra juice. Sunday Night Football should only amplify it.
With McDaniel and Justin Herbert facing Minter and the Ravens, this has the feel of one of the premier AFC games on the schedule.
Then there’s the Sunday Night Football game on Thanksgiving weekend against the Patriots, a rematch of the 2025 wildcard round. That game is still hanging over Herbert, and for good reason.
It was arguably one of the worst performances of his career, and that memory won’t fade until the Chargers answer it on the field. This one comes in Los Angeles against Drake Maye and New England, and as December approaches, it could end up being the most important revenge game of the year for Herbert and the Chargers.
In Other News...
Ravens Just Dragged Raiders Back Into The Tyler Linderbaum Drama
Baltimore is moving quickly to shore up the middle of its offensive line after Tyler Linderbaum left for Las Vegas in free agency, turning to veteran center Ethan Pocic on a one-year deal. The move gives the Ravens an experienced option at a spot that suddenly needed one, and it comes with a little extra intrigue because Pocic is still working back from an Achilles tendon tear suffered in December.
Even with that recovery timeline, Pocic is expected to be part of training camp, pending the final physical, which makes this a calculated bet rather than a simple stopgap. It also fits into a broader offseason pattern for Baltimore, which has already shown it is willing to pivot after missing on Maxx Crosby and landing Trey Hendrickson instead, leaving the Linderbaum ripple effect very much alive for the Raiders to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Another Raiders Line Gamble Just Turned Into A Much Bigger Problem
The Raiders brought in Alex Cappa last year hoping a veteran blocker could stabilize a line that needed help, but the fit never really took hold. He bounced between spots, never locked down a consistent starting job and struggled to find much traction as injuries and lineup changes forced him into different roles.
Now, with training camps approaching, Cappa is already off the roster and still looking for his next opportunity. His recent tape has drawn poor marks, and the conversation around him has shifted from what position he might hold for Las Vegas to whether there is still a place for him anywhere in the league. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Made A Massive Bet To Fix Their Biggest Problem
The Raiders spent the offseason trying to clean up the mess that has lingered around their offensive line, and the move to bring in Tyler Linderbaum was the clearest sign they were done treating it like a secondary issue. After years of shuffling pieces and searching for stability up front, Las Vegas made the center position a priority and expects Linderbaum to be the kind of anchor that changes how the entire offense functions.
Klint Kubiak has already pointed to the value Linderbaum brings beyond the snap itself, noting the way he handles line calls, protection checks and the leadership work that happens when coaches are not in the room. The Raiders are betting on more than just talent here, because if Linderbaum settles in the way they think he can, he could quickly become one of the most important players on the roster. [Read more 🡒]