Must-See Matchups: Top 5 Games on the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2024 Schedule

Ok. Two divisional teams? I get it, but this one runs a bit deeper. The Raiders have a loyal fan base in the California southland, despite the team turning its back on LA exactly 30 years ago. This one comes down to claiming a bit of the black hole for the ol’ Powder Blues. Nothing beats watching Raiders fans leave SoFi stadium after a loss.

The last time these two teams met, the Raiders embarrassed the Bolts by hanging 63 points on them. They fired Brandon Staley shortly after that game ended. It’s time to earn back a bit of pride and prove that LA belongs to the Chargers.

Cleveland Browns

They say styles make fights. Stylistically, the Chargers and the Browns are nearly twins; Two talented quarterbacks, fierce edge rushers vs possibly the two best offensive lines in football, and a maniacal devotion to the power rushing attack.

The Chargers are on a four-game winning streak against the Browns, but the last two have been determined by a total of seven points. The Browns are coming off a disappointing 2023, but with a healthy Nick Chubb on the roster, they will be looking for a definitive rebound.

This one will be played in Cleveland, so hopefully, it will occur in the first two months of the season. The last time the Chargers lost to the Browns was on Christmas Eve of 2016 on a brisk 38-degree afternoon.

Baltimore Ravens

The ties that bind these two run deep. Joe Hortiz used to work for the Ravens, Greg Roman used to be their offensive coordinator, and of course, the two head coaches are brothers; Jim and John Harbaugh.

This will be the first time the two have faced off since Super Bowl XLVII, over 11 years ago, when John edged out Brother Jim winning the game 34-31.

The Ravens have won four out of the last five, winning by an average score of 13.25 points. Family grudge match aside, the Ravens got dragged through the salary cap wringer in free agency, Hortiz even swiped a couple of key pieces from the Ravens, and their draft class is seen as just ‘okay.’ The Ravens will be a good litmus test for just how good the Chargers are this season.

Atlanta Falcons

The Chargers and the Falcons may be the two teams that have seen the two biggest overhauls from last season to this season. The Falcons added a whole new coaching staff with Raheem Morris heading up the squad. They also added two new quarterbacks, Kirk Cousins and (for some reason) first-rounder, Michael Penix Jr.

The Chargers also have a new coaching staff in addition to a new GM. Unlike the Falcons, the only position that wasn’t changed significantly was quarterback.

The strengths of each team play to the other’s weaknesses. The Chargers are going to run the ball and the Falcons struggled against heavy rushing teams last season. They gave up 14 runs of 20+ yards last season, seventh most in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Falcons have perhaps the best set of offensive playmakers, and now with a new play-caller and a competent QB, this passing game is about to come alive. The Chargers have done what they can to patch up the secondary, but it is still the largest liability on the team.