The 2025 NFL schedule was unveiled last week. For most teams around the league, there are going to be tougher stretches that may or may not define their season. Certain runs on the schedule are going to affect specific squads drastically. For the Los Angeles Chargers, they are tasked with an immediate test out of the gate.
The Chargers will open the year with three straight games against their own division rivals. Why is this so significant for Los Angeles and their potential ceiling this year? Also, how could a possible slow start determine their fate at the end of the year?
Here are a few reasons why the trio of AFC West division matchups stands out for the Los Angeles Chargers.
AFC West set to be one of deepest divisions in 2025
The AFC West could easily be the toughest division to compete in this upcoming season. Both the AFC North and NFC North divisions are typically grinds to come out of. But outside of that, arguably no other division has the depth of the AFC West in terms of head coaching prowess and quarterback play.
The oddsmakers appear to agree, as well. If you look at the over/under win totals on FanDuel Sportsbook, most of the odds you can get that are close to even believe that three AFC West teams could have winning records. The Kansas City Chiefs are at 11.5 wins for their most even odds available. Each of the Denver Broncos and the Chargers are at 9.5 wins. And even the Las Vegas Raiders are not that far away from .500, sitting at 7.5 wins.
So for the Chargers, opening with that stretch is easily one of the more challenging that a team could draw inside their division to open the year. Being involved with those matchups out of the gate will certainly test the mettle of this year's Bolts.
International opener throws wrench into opening stretch
The Chargers were designated as the "home" team for the Brazil matchup in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. So, not only do they have to face a current dynasty in that matchup in the Kansas City Chiefs, they get very little extra rest after that particular international trip.
Los Angeles will not even get to play in their own home stadium the next week. The Chargers head to Las Vegas for Monday Night Football against the Raiders in Week 2. Then, on essentially short rest from that game, L.A. will host the Denver Broncos in Week 3. The Broncos appear to be receiving as much national hype as anyone, to boot. If the Chiefs still remain the top dog in the AFC West, that game with the Broncos could go a long way in determining who may remain on Kansas City's heels.
How does that international trip truly impact the Chargers? Will the inconsistent rest schedules actually be more welcome by Los Angeles that early in the season? Or would they prefer to find their footing a bit more smoothly from the jump?
Extra headlines surrounding three early division games
Every team will face immediate pressure if they do not perform up to its standard at the beginning of the year. For the Los Angeles Chargers, there are a few extra headlines to monitor because of that trio of division games in the first three weeks.
For one, you cannot make the playoffs in September. You can certainly paint yourself into a corner with a horrible opening stretch, though. Just ask last year's Cincinnati Bengals. Having to play catch-up and avoid any early elimination come December is critical for teams with slow starts. Any slip-up in those three division games could make or break how L.A. finishes in the AFC West standings or in the AFC wild card race.
Not to mention, a quarterback like Justin Herbert wants to stave off any added pressure early in the season. That is especially true following the way in which he and the Chargers were eliminated in last year's Wild Card round of the playoffs. Herbert completed just around 43 percent of his passes in that playoff loss to the Houston Texans, with four interceptions included.