Predicting Chargers 2025 Wins by Schedule

Zak Drapeau
Aug 6
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau 8/6/2025 FansOnlySportz

Team Overview

The Chargers have a clear future with Jim Harbaugh but one that seems to conflict with some of the teams' strongest points it already has. Mainly around the fa that Harbaugh seems to be trying to turn Justin Herbert into a game manager when the 27-year old has been a pure gunslinger since starting in the NFL.

Harbaugh's system is a good one and his success in college proves it. Harbaugh wants to turn his team into a trenches-first style similar to Mike Tomlins' Steelers. It has already worked to be fair to him as we saw the Chargers have the least points allowed in Harbaugh's first year.

The change in style should make the Chargers contenders as soon as the team is built around it making the real question 'when' not 'if'.

The biggest problems with the current team is the aforementioned change Justin Herbert needs to make along with their playmakers on both sides of the ball. While the Chargers run game on both sides seems legit, their receivers and cornerbacks have a few glaring question that will need to be addressed. (After writing this Keenan Allen just signed to the team helping the receiver core a little but still not enough.)

Even so good coaching helps everything and the elite group of Harbaugh, Roman and Minter is the best "up and coming" coaching staffs in the league. Still, the biggest question is when the Chargers will make the leap and I'm not sure if the answer will be this year. Let's get to the bottom of it and see if Jim Harbaugh can get them past the hump as we look at their schedule, game-by-game.

___________________________________

Week 1: vs Chiefs (Friday Night on Youtube)

NFL's first game on Youtube, let's all pretend we care at vall as the league gives us another subscription to buy... In reality this will be a war of a divisional game to give us on Week 1 but the Chiefs are the Chiefs and even in LA they'll win.

Prediction: Chiefs 24-17

___________________________________

Week 2: @ Raiders (MNF)

Going just down the road to Las Vegas, the Chargers should have a much more favorable matchup against the Raiders. On Monday night, the Chargers should have the right defense to stop Ashton Jeanty and with their workhorse neutralized, the Raiders will come up short.

Prediction: Chargers 24-20

___________________________________

Week 3: vs Broncos

Week 3 and the third divisional matchup against the Broncos who like the Chargers are on a clear rise. The Broncos defense may be the best in the league but they're offense can really be taken advantage of especially by a group like the Chargers. In a nasty and hard fought matchup, the Chargers barely get the win.

Prediction: Chargers 21-19

___________________________________

Week 4: @ Giants

Another defensive tug-of-war added by the road trip to New York, the Giants will be a tough matchup this season. Headed by a defense that on paper has gotten MUCH better, the Chargers will have to take this game drive by drive and run the ball well. If they do that they should escape with a low-scoring win.

Prediction: Chargers 14-10

___________________________________

Week 5: vs Commanders

Back at home in a huge advantage against the East Coast-Commanders, this game will really test the Chargers secondary. Behind good coaching and Harbaugh implementing a slow-tempo game for their advantage, I think the Chargers ride out their home field advantage to a close victory.

Prediction: Chargers 24-21

___________________________________

Week 6: @ Dolphins

In the midst of a 4-game win streak, the Chargers are feeling as if Harbaugh's plan is working out before their road trip to Miami. If the secondary wasn't exploited against the Commanders it should be here by Tyreek. Playing their slow and hard-nose game will only save them so much and eventually they'll fall to the Fins in this one.

Prediction: Dolphins 28-21

___________________________________

Week 7: vs Colts

Another home game and the Colts offense is EXACTLY what Harbaugh built his defense around. Relying on their run game, the Chargers should stuff it initially and make the Colts' QB throw the ball and no matter if it's Richardson or Jones, they will absolutely make a mistake or four and give this game to LA.

Prediction: Chargers 31-21

___________________________________

Week 8: vs Vikings (TNF)

Luckily staying at home for this short week against the Vikings, even a home stand may not be able to stop one man... Jettas. If the Chargers' secondary isn't perfect, Justin Jefferson will go off in this game and if they double cover him, Addison and Hockenson will be open too much for the Chargers to secure a win.

Prediction: Vikings 28-24

___________________________________

Week 9: @ Titans

This is probably the biggest upset on their schedule but I'm going to take the Titans here in Tennessee. Cam Ward will have his ups and downs but I can see this one being an Up and behind an above average O-line, he should do enough to upset the Chargers and send them back to LA.

Prediction: Titans 27-21

___________________________________

Week 10: vs Steelers (SNF)

This game will be the passing of the guard from one of the toughest teams in the league to another. This game will have the feel of one of the Steelers' games in the 70's and one that Harbaugh has been preparing his boys for for almost 2 years now. The Chargers will make less mistakes in my opinion and lead them to win this game.

Prediction: Chargers 19-17

___________________________________

Week 11: @ Jaguars

The 3rd longest road trip of any team this season, traveling to the Jaguars is tough enough but the matchup with them is even tougher. The Jaguars pass game should be very good this year with new HC Liam Coen and draft pick Travis Hunter. A mismatch against the Chargers secondary will be exploited even more down in Florida.

Prediction: Jaguars 34-26

___________________________________

Week 12: BYE Week

Standing at 6-5 with 6 games left, the Chargers are in a good spot but have 4 of the toughest games of their season ahead. With 3 divisional games being crucial and tough games to decide their season, the Chargers' secondary and entire offense will need to take an extra step up to cement their playoff push.

___________________________________

Week 13: vs Raiders

After an extra week of prep and staying at home, the Raiders come to town for the 4th AFC West game of their season. The Raiders game earlier was won by stuffing Jeanty and I don't know if they can do that twice. If Jeanty gets going and Geno Smith lights it up, I can see the Raiders getting a huge upset in LA.

Prediction: Raiders 21-20

___________________________________

Week 14: vs Eagles (MNF)

For their second Monday night game of the year, the Eagles will be a VERY tall order. While they were able to stop the Steelers and Colts' similarly built offenses, the Eagles are on another level and will take this one on both sides of the ball.

Prediction: Eagles 24-17

___________________________________

Week 15: @ Chiefs

Needing a win after 3 losses, going into Kansas City isn't best for that. A war that's closer than their first matchup, the Chiefs are still the better team and have become consistent in winning matchups just like this.

Prediction: Chiefs 21-17

___________________________________

Week 16: @ Cowboys

Another really good matchup between two teams equally good in the trenches but again I believe the outmatched secondary will hurt the Chargers. Dak and Ceedee will dismantle them in this one and in Dallas, I have to give this to the Cowboys.

Prediction: Cowboys 28-27

___________________________________

Week 17: vs Texans (TBD)

The Texans are another team that has a really good passing game but are an exception because of their O-line. With the way this Chargers team prioritzes the line I don't think sacking Stroud 6 or 7 times is out of the question and will make this one a W for the Chargers.

Prediction: Chargers 26-24

___________________________________

Week 18: @ Broncos (TBD)

At this point in the season the Chargers are 7-9 and out of the playoff race but the Broncos actually have a chance at stealing the division from the Chiefs. In a last gasp effort to finish the year strong, the Chargers will come up short in Mile High to a better team and enter the Off season with a clear to do list for Harbaugh.

Prediction: Broncos 31-24

___________________________________

The Chargers end this exercise with a 7-10 record including a 5-4 home record but only a 2-4 record in the AFC West.

The Chargers season ends with disappointment as they miss the playoffs lose 4 more games than last season. The biggest hole at the beginning of the season is their biggest hole all year as the Chargers' secondary gives up too many passing plays and lose multiple games for the team. With several young players that have room to grow, this season was good for their experience but shows a definite need for them to bring in a #1 guy.

The good parts of this tea were on display by taking another step in offense in both the run and pass game and especially the O-line. The building blocks are there for the Chargers in spades and they're only a pure CB, another WR and maybe an extra D-lineman to really be a complete team. Combine that with the intelligence and experience of this coaching staff and this hiccup of a season could be the catalyst for a run in LA for years to come.

___________________________________