The Chargers have a legitimate shot at winning the AFC West in 2026.
They’ve built a roster that they hope will get the job done, and NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah believes this season could finally be it. Jeremiah said the AFC West is wide open and explained what gives him the most confidence that the Chargers could get the job done.
Jeremiah mentioned three Chargers that could be the difference-makers: offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and their two elite offensive tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
“I think three people would come right to mind: Mike McDaniel, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater,” Jeremiah said. “That provides a lot of optimism when you get to the new exciting offensive system and then you pair that with an elite, best-in-the-league tackle combination.”
The Chargers last won the AFC West in 2009, when Phillip Rivers was under center, and Norv Turner was calling the plays. That season, the Chargers went 13-3, but fell to the New York Jets in the divisional round.
Los Angeles has all the tools to have another elite season similar to that one, and their offense could be what gets them over the top. The last two seasons, one could argue their lack of offensive explosiveness and protection of Justin Herbert was the team’s downfall.
In their last two playoff games, the Chargers offense combined for 15 points. Last season, they were without their two top tackles in Alt and Slater.
The Chargers offense has been dormant, and McDaniel is expected to change that significantly. Los Angeles finished with an 11-6 record in 2025, and that came without Alt and Slater for the majority of the season.
Add those two to the mix, plus McDaniel calling the plays on offense, and the Chargers may not only be a threat to win the AFC West, but potentially make a deep playoff run.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Three Chargers could decide AFC West race, NFL insider says
Reporting by Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire | USA TODAY Network
