With the schedule out, everyone is making their predictions and pencilling in the best games on their schedule. For the Chargers, hopes are high after an 11-6 finish and a playoff berth. Can the Chargers match that record again this year? I will attempt to predict their wins and losses for the 2025 season and explain what the Chargers have to do to match my predictions.
Week 1 vs. Chiefs: L (0-1)
Sorry Chargers, but we’re starting the year 0-1. Everyone knows Andy Reid and the Chiefs are great off the bye, and historically great in Week 1. This will also be a primetime game, and the Chiefs thrive in that environment. If there’s any chance of winning this one, it’ll come down to getting after Mahomes and controlling the clock with the run game. But even then, I’ll take the Chiefs in a close last-minute or clutch moment. This very photo is from the aftermath of the “Doink for the Division,” so I think we all know the Chiefs’ dark magic will pull this one out for them.
Week 2 @ Raiders: L (0-2)
Look, I swear we will win some games eventually. But with a brand new coach, a new star running back, and a franchise QB, the Raiders improved massively in the offseason. I think the Chargers should be happy to split the 2025 series with them, so we’ll give the black and silver the home win. I do think the Chargers have a good chance in this game. If they can contain Ashton Jeanty, Geno Smith might struggle, and the Bolts could come away with a win. Sorry to predict a slow start, but I promise the Chargers can turn it around.
Week 3 vs. Broncos: W (1-2)
See, I told you we’d turn it around! This is another season series we’ll split, and while every one won’t break down on the home/away barrier, we’ll give us the first win of the year. While Jahdae Barron as well as offseason pickups from the 49ers makes the Broncos pass defense fearsome, they did pass on Omarion Hampton. I think Hampton can easily take over a few games this year, and this could be one. It would be pretty poetic for him the make the Broncos regret their pick and get the season going.
Week 4 @ Giants: W (2-2)
I did list this game as one of the toughest on the Chargers’ schedule, mostly due to the fearsome Giants D-Line. But at the end of the day, the Bolts have the better quarterback, the better coach, and the FAR better offense. I would give the Chargers the slight edge, even if I do fear that the Giants’ defensive ends will maul Justin Herbert. Frankly, the Giants are still in a rebuild and there’s no way Jaxson Dart will have it figured out by this point, and we know we can handle Russel Wilson. This game should bring LA back to a .500 record pretty comfortably.
Week 5 vs. Commanders: L (2-3)
Another of the toughest games of the year for the Chargers. Jayden Daniels is a scary and dynamic player, and he thrives under pressure. I think the Chargers do have a chance in this game if they can take over and run the football well, definitely a weakness of the Commies’ defense. But ultimately I think Jayden will carry the day and find a way to clutch it out, and unfortunately, we drop below .500 again.
Week 6 @ Dolphins: W (3-3)
Back over the .500 mark. No offense to the Dolphins but it’s fair to say their coach is on the hot seat and they are a soft football team. Our hard-nosed rushing style should be able to beat their flashy speed. Guarding Tyreek Hill is never easy, but hopefully Jessie Minter can cook something good up to stop Mike McDaniels flashy offense. I believe we will take the Fins down pretty easily.
Week 7 vs. Colts: W (4-3)
This should be another easy win. Who knows who the Colts starting QB will even be at this point, but regardless I wouldn’t trust them too much. The defense should be able to handle Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson. The Colts’ defense is sneaky good, so Justin Herbert must be at his best. But the Colts are not a playoff team, and if we can’t beat them, that would be very concerning.
Week 8 vs. Vikings: L (4-4)
I had to give this one to @footballanalysis since we might even be watching this one live. I went back and forth on this and do think it’s a winnable game, but the Vikings are the more proven team. Assuming JJ McCarthy plays at a high or even passable level, their offense is going to be extremely scary. No one can guard Justin Jefferson, and the only way the Chargers have to fight that is to get after the other JJ. If they can control the clock and keep the ball out of either JJ’s hand, they might take this one down, but I’ll give Minnesota the edge for Garret’s sake.
Week 9 @ Titans: W (5-4)
This should be another easy win to pencil in. While I’m excited for Cam Ward and he will have some experience under his belt by Week 9, the Titans’ roster still isn’t great. I also have many questions about head coach Brian Callahan, who is possibly even on the hot seat. If the Bolts can run the ball against the stout D-Line of the Titans, this should be no problem. L’Jarius Sneed may very well lock down Ladd McConkey, but hopefully, the offense can adapt and still score. I think Jesse Minter’s scheme should confuse Cam Ward and make his life hard, so this should be an easy W.
Week 10 vs. Steelers: W (6-4)
This is another team with a pretty uncertain QB situation. Even if and when they do sign Aaron Rodgers, I wouldn’t expect the Steelers offense to excite anyone. Their hard-nosed defense is scary, but hopefully the Chargers can run them down and control the ball. I would attack them with the play action and also blitz to get to Rodgers, who will probably be a bit old and tired by this point in the year. I like this matchup to get us a game above .500 and start the end of the season push.
Week 11 @ Jaguars: W (7-4)
This is a chance for Justin Herbert to avenge perhaps the most embarrassing loss of his life, and I like him to get it done. I will admit to some serious fear of Travis Hunter, one of the best players in the draft. But he’s only one guy, and beyond that, the Jaguars roster isn’t super deep. As always, establishing the run and keeping the ball out of the Prince’s hands will be key. Remember, in the first half of that playoff game, the Chargers picked Trevor off 4 times. If they can create turnovers like that and capitalize, they can win this game. In the battle of perhaps the two greatest if-man QBs in the league, I’ll take the one with the short hair to win the day.
Week 13 vs. Raiders: W (8-4)
Another team that picked up a very scary first-round draft pick, but they’re still the Raiders. Once again, I’m splitting the season series and giving us the home game, though it rarely shakes out that cleanly. As I said in the first matchup, containing Ashton Jeanty and making Geno Smith beat you is the key to success. But the Chargers have the stronger roster and certainly the better QB over the Raiders. While I do think they’ll split the series, hopefully, this home game should be easily winnable with the Chargers coming off the bye.
Week 14 vs. Eagles: L (8-5)
I don’t think I need to explain why playing the defending champs will be a tough out. Not only is their roster absolutely stacked, but it matches up well against the Chargers. Jalen Carter is scary against our IOL, their stacked secondary is a lot better than our middling receiver group, and the tush push is strong against our Poona Fordless D-Line. Not only that, but containing Saquon will be a huge challenge. Safe to say this one is probably an L for the Bolts, but it will be an exciting yardstick for where they stack up with the best of the best.
Week 15 @ Chiefs: L (8-6)
Sorry LA, but facing both Super Bowl teams back to back is a very tough out. The Chiefs are 8-2 against the Chargers over the last 5 years, and playing them at Arrowhead in the winter is not going to be an easy game. The Chiefs have swept the Chargers the past three years running, and I unfortunately have to guess they will sustain that streak. Especially the week after being hammered by the Eagles, this seems like a pretty tough game to win.
Week 16 @ Cowboys: W (9-6)
As much as it pains me to pick against my Cowboys, the Chargers are the better team. I have serious doubts about Brian Schottenheimer, and I think Harbaugh can probably coach circles around him. The biggest risk for the Chargers is the terrifying edge rush duo featuring Micah Parsons and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. But that maps well with their two tackles, the best linemen on their team. The other risk is the new receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Hopefully, the young, talented secondary can manage them. Assuming Schottenheimer isn’t too hapless, this should be a great matchup of two talented teams. I will be cheering on my Cowboys, but I don’t know that they’ll pull it off.
Week 17 vs. Texans: W (10-6)
Having the Texans visit us rather than visiting them is a huge benefit to us. The Texans are very scary at home, as we saw in last year’s playoffs. Having them in our building makes this game much easier to win. If we can get after CJ and attack their depleted O-Line, it will be easy to slow down their offense. Their corners are incredible, but our run-heavy offense should be able to work nonetheless. Justin Herbert will have to take advantage of any opportunity he gets, but if he does get a few, the Chargers should carry the day.
Week 18 @ Broncos: L (10-7)
Wrapping up the season by splitting the season series with the Broncos and ending with a 10-7 record. There’s no way of knowing, but this game could easily decide the AFC West winner or be for a wild card berth. This is just a shorthand for the series split, and if this is a gotta have it game, the Chargers would have a good chance. As I said previously, the run game is key to our success against Denver, as is getting to Bo Nix. I do hope the stakes of this game are as high as I suspect they might be, as it will be a thrilling way to end the season.
BONUS PREDICTION: Wildcard Round @ Texans: W
This is a way too early and way too bold prediction, but I kind of want to have this thrown in my face as to how wrong I was. I will go ahead and predict that the Chargers will be visiting the Houston Texans as the 5 seed in the Wildcard Round, and Justin Herbert will pick up his first playoff win. If our tackles can hold up against the fearsome pass rush duo, and Ladd McConkey can get open occasionally, this is a winnable game. Hopefully, Omarion Hampton can carry the Bolts to the Divisional in 2025.
BONUS BONUS PREDICTION: Divisional Round @ Ravens: L
Okay, now I’m really going out on a limb. This is so many predictions that there’s just no chance it’s right. So, to review, I’m predicting 1) The Ravens as the 1 seed, 2) The Chargers making the divisional as a 5 seed, 3) no upset by the 6 seed over the 3 or the 7 over the 2, and after all that, 4) a Chargers loss. So my fantasy playoff run comes to a swift end. Obviously, this whole exercise is a little silly, but I hope you enjoyed my bold predictions for the Bolts in 2025, and I can’t wait to watch them make it come true (or make me look very stupid).
