The 2025 NFL season didn’t exactly go according to plan for the Los Angeles Chargers, but a deeper dive into the numbers reveals a team that may have been better than the record books suggest. According to Pro Football Focus' latest power rankings, the Chargers finished the year as the 12th-best team in the NFL-a surprising placement, especially when you consider they landed ahead of teams with better win-loss records, including a 14-3 Broncos squad.
So, what’s behind this ranking? Let’s unpack it.
Quarterback Play: Herbert Holds His Ground
One of the most telling aspects of PFF’s rankings is their evaluation of quarterback play. In the league’s top five QBs for the 2025 season, Justin Herbert came in at No. 4-just behind the elite trio of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, and ahead of Dak Prescott.
That’s a strong endorsement of Herbert’s performance in a season where the Chargers dealt with injuries, inconsistency, and some tough breaks. While he may not have cracked the very top tier, Herbert’s placement confirms what many around the league already believe: he’s right on the doorstep of elite status. His arm talent, decision-making, and ability to keep the offense afloat under pressure continue to set him apart.
Strength of Schedule: A Middle-of-the-Pack Gauntlet
When it comes to strength of schedule, PFF takes a more nuanced approach than the traditional win-percentage method. Rather than simply tallying up opponents’ records, they evaluate on-field performance-how teams actually played, not just whether they won or lost.
By that measure, the Chargers faced the 18th-toughest schedule in 2025. That’s just below average, and when you look at their slate of opponents, it makes sense.
Matchups against the Raiders (twice), Giants, Commanders, Dolphins, and Titans didn’t exactly make for a murderers’ row. Still, the Chargers had to earn their wins, and PFF’s metrics suggest they held up reasonably well against the competition they faced.
So, How Good Were the 2025 Chargers?
Here’s where things get interesting. Despite missing the playoffs, the Chargers clocked in at No. 12 in PFF’s overall team rankings. That puts them ahead of several playoff squads, including the aforementioned Broncos, and just behind a couple of teams-the Lions and Ravens-who also failed to make the postseason despite strong seasons.
And when you look at how the playoffs unfolded, PFF’s rankings look pretty spot-on. The two teams meeting in the Super Bowl?
Ranked No. 1 and No. 4, respectively. Each took care of business on their way to the big game, knocking off teams ranked just below them.
That kind of alignment between analytics and actual results lends some credibility to the methodology.
So what does that mean for the Chargers? It suggests that, even though the win-loss column didn’t reflect it, this was a top-half team in the league-one that played better than its record and could be poised for a jump in 2026.
Looking Ahead: A Team on the Verge
If there’s a silver lining for Chargers fans, it’s this: the foundation is solid. With a top-five quarterback, a middle-of-the-road schedule, and a No. 12 overall ranking, the Chargers have the pieces in place.
The next step? Health and consistency.
Injuries played a role in derailing the 2025 campaign, but if this group can stay on the field and build on what they showed in the metrics, there’s every reason to believe they’ll be a legitimate playoff contender next season.
The numbers don’t always tell the whole story-but in this case, they paint a picture of a team that’s closer to breaking through than many might realize.