Apple officially pulled the plug on the lightning charging cable in 2025.
Turns out, the California-based tech giant was a year ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers. The 2026 season has been nothing short of a nightmare for Jim Harbaugh's team, especially after an offseason that saw it labeled as a potential Super Bowl contender.
Hiring Mike McDaniel backfired in a way that even the biggest critics couldn't have seen, leaving the offensive coordinator's job security up in the air. Justin Herbert's regression under McDaniel has been eye-opening, with little details like a shift in shotgun formation stance seemingly producing massive issues.
Injuries are again the name of the game for the always banged-up Chargers, but this issue goes deeper than that.
Talent deficiencies across the board, poor coaching and overall roster regression is a trifecta that even some tanking teams can't accomplish.
Winless through seven weeks and coming out of the bye, it's clear that the Chargers are heading for a top pick in the upcoming draft.
The final NFL team in search of a victory this season is unlikely to go 0-17, but where is there a win on the Chargers' schedule? Let's take a closer look.
When will the Chargers win a game?
The Chargers' best chance to win, on paper at least, is against the New York Jets in Week 11 or the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.
Here's a look at some of the candidates for a win on the team's remaining schedule, in the order they will be played:
vs. Houston Texans (Week 9)
Like the Chargers, the Texans can't seem to do anything right this season. Once considered a Super Bowl contender, Houston has been uneven all season and couldn't be further from its preseason hype. The defense is a shell of its former self and the offense has been hit-or-miss. Depending on the version that shows up in L.A., this is a winnable game.
vs. New York Jets (Week 11)
In the case of the Jets, that Week 11 contest comes right before Thanksgiving and "Gang Green" will be traveling across the country. By that point, New York could turn its attention to the offseason and hand the keys over to some younger players before wrapping up what appears to be another lost season.
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 13)
The Chargers won't benefit from playing an opponent returning from international travel, but they do have one spot against a team on a short week. Tampa will be playing what could be a key divisional contest against the Carolina Panthers on "Monday Night Football" in Week 12, but does have the luxury of staying home when the Chargers come to town. Still, the potential letdown spot looms large when you go from divisional foe to nonconference opponent.
at Miami Dolphins (Week 16)
Similar to the Jets, the Dolphins will be out of it by this point. With just a few weeks left and the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft on the line, Miami could have little motivation to compete. If there is one saving grace, however, it's that the Dolphins might have a desire to win to cap off the first year of a rebuild in style. The coaching staff and front office aren't going anywhere, meaning this plays as one of those classic "culture wins" that teams love. With a potential coaching change and roster change looming after the season, it's hard to believe the Chargers could feel the same way.
Los Angeles Chargers remaining 2026 schedule
(all times Eastern)
- Week 8 (Nov. 1): at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 9 (Nov. 8): vs. Houston Texans, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 10 (Nov. 16): at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
- Week 11 (Nov. 22): vs. New York Jets, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 12 (Nov. 29): vs. New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
- Week 13 (Dec. 6): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 14 (Dec. 13): at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 15 (Dec. 17): vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
- Week 16 (Dec. 27): at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 17 (TBD): vs. Kansas City Chiefs, TBD, TBD
- Week 18 (TBD): at Denver Broncos, TBD, TBD
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will the Chargers win a game? Breaking down LA's remaining schedule
