Are the Chargers viewed as serious Super Bowl contenders heading into the 2026 season?
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives the Bolts a 4.4% chance of winning Super Bowl LXI (ninth-best in the NFL) and solid positioning in the tough AFC West, with a 35.9% chance of winning the division for the first time since 2009, which is slightly behind the Chiefs’ 38.2% chance.
The Chargers are listed among the top-10 most likely Super Bowl matchups, given a 2.2% chance to play their crosstown rivals, the Rams, at SoFi Stadium.
There’s greater optimism about making the playoffs, with the model projecting a 65.1% chance of the Bolts advancing past the regular season for the third consecutive season (the fifth-highest among AFC teams).
Los Angeles ranks seventh in the FPI (+2.6 rating), meaning it’d be favored by about a field goal on a neutral site against an average NFL team.
Justin Herbert has structural support from Jim Harbaugh and a new system engineered by Mike McDaniel. Protected by an improved offensive line and backed by a defense with an elite core, this balanced team has what it takes to make a deep run.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers 2026 season: LA’s playoff and Super Bowl chances revealed
Reporting by Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire | USA TODAY Network
