The Chargers have spent years trying to get out from under Kansas City’s shadow, and one NFL analyst thinks 2026 could be the season that finally tilts the AFC West picture.
ESPN’s Ben Solak believes the Chiefs could miss the playoffs that year, and he sees the Chargers as a team that might help push them there. That would be a major shift in a rivalry that has only grown sharper in recent seasons, especially with Kansas City becoming the division’s dominant force. The Chargers haven’t beaten the Chiefs at home since 2013.
Solak’s reasoning starts with what Kansas City is becoming. He said the team is “halfway through taking some of their contract lumps and reconstructing the roster into a younger, cheaper and deeper group.”
He added that “Jones has no guaranteed money left on his deal after 2026” and that “Kelce is essentially on year-to-year deals at this point.” In his view, the Chiefs are laying groundwork for a new era, but they are not fully there yet.
That’s why Solak expects Kansas City to be better in 2026 without necessarily being a real AFC West favorite. He pointed to the Broncos as the division’s strongest roster and said the Chargers are close enough in talent to matter, especially if the offense takes off under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
“The Chargers are fairly equal in talent and might explode offensively under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel,” Solak wrote. He also noted that “The rest of the conference remains as deep and intimidating as always. There are only seven playoff spots to go around, and I don't think the Chiefs have a top-seven roster in the AFC.”
For the Chargers, that sets up a very specific kind of payoff. Making the playoffs in 2026 would matter on its own, but doing it while helping knock the Chiefs out would be the kind of finish this fan base has been waiting for.
A big part of that comes down to how quickly Justin Herbert and the offense can get comfortable in McDaniel’s system. Solak’s point is simple: the Chargers may have the talent to match Kansas City, and if the scheme clicks, they could turn that into real pressure on the Chiefs’ postseason hopes.
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