Los Angeles Chargers 2026 NFL season preview, analysis and predictions

The Los Angeles Chargers enter year three with head coach Jim Harbaugh, and their eyes are set on QB Justin Herbert recording his first postseason win. LA has finished 11-6 the past two seasons before losing in the Wild Card in back-to-back years, so they haven’t failed by any means, but there is plenty of room for growth.

The biggest news this offseason is that Harbaugh enters the year with two new coordinators. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has replaced Greg Roman on the offensive side, while first-year defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary will try to step in for Jesse Minter, who is now the Ravens head coach.

Although there have been major coaching staff changes, the majority of this roster remains the same, so let’s get into my Los Angeles Chargers season preview.

Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of NFL game odds and NFL futures.

Los Angeles Chargers NFL futures

The Chargers have made the playoffs three out of the last four seasons, and here are their odds for various markets this year:

• Win the Super Bowl (+1700)
• Win the AFC (+850)
• To be No. 1 seed in the AFC (+950)
• To win the AFC West (+190)
• To make the playoffs (-170)
• Regular season wins – Over 9.5 (-140) | Under 9.5 (+115)

Justin Herbert willed this squad to the playoffs last season after their offensive line was riddled with injuries, and he currently is tied with Patrick Mahomes and Drake Maye for the fourth-shortest odds to win MVP. Here are three individual futures markets and odds for the Chargers this season:

• Justin Herbert to win MVP (+1000)
• Akheem Mesidor to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (+1300)
• Jim Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year (+2000)

Los Angeles Chargers squad strengths

The Los Angeles Chargers’ biggest strength this season will be Herbert. The Oregon product is entering his seventh season in the NFL and is coming off a season where he threw for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Although those numbers won’t blow you away, they’re more impressive when you consider that he had to play behind a makeshift offensive line. It began when left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his left patella tendon during training camp before right tackle Joe Alt suffered an ankle injury that ultimately caused him to play just six games. Both players are healthy heading into this season, which should only boost Herbert’s play.

Outside of Herbert, this Chargers defence should still be one of the league’s best. Losing Minter to Baltimore is a big blow, but there is still plenty of talent that they can rely on. All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. is back, Denzel Perryman and Khalil Mack bring elite veteran experience to the linebacking corps, and Tuli Tuipulotu is coming off a season where he finished sixth in the NFL with 13 sacks. Although the system won’t be identical to last year, I still expect this defence to succeed.

Los Angeles Chargers squad weaknesses

The Chargers’ biggest weakness is their health. I know, I know, injuries are supposed to be random, but you can’t ignore how much they’ve affected this Chargers team. When looking at last season, it’s no mystery that the healthiest teams were the most successful. The Patriots, Rams, and Seahawks were the most fortunate teams in terms of health in 2024-25, and the Broncos were the fifth-most fortunate. Those four teams faced off in the AFC and NFC Championships. If LA suffers any injuries on the offensive line again, they will need Herbert to play even better than he did last season.

The second weakness I can identify is their cornerback depth. Veteran Donte Jackson is the leader, but they have multiple question marks behind him. Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, and Deane Leonard are the next three in line; they have eight combined seasons in the NFL. Still is the only one of the three who has started more than 12 games in his career, and they will definitely be challenged throughout the season. LA has to face the Chiefs and Broncos twice, the Bills, Seahawks, Rams, Ravens, and Patriots. That’s nine games against some of the best QBs in the NFL, and they will need to answer the bell.

Justin Herbert Over 3,600.5 passing yards (-110)

This Chargers team is extremely difficult to read, but there is one clear success story: Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel. The former Dolphins head coach revitalized Tua Tagovailoa’s career before the QB suffered multiple concussions, as Tua threw for 4,624 passing yards in his lone season where he played all 17 games with McDaniel. Herbert has surpassed 3,650 passing yards in five of his six seasons, and he only played 13 games in the lone year when he failed to reach this mark. The Chargers will go as far as Herbert takes them, and I expect a big season for the 28-year-old.