The NFL released the 2024 schedule for all 32 teams last week, giving fans their first opportunity to examine the gauntlet their favorite team will run through as they chase the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.
The Chargers’ schedule was no different, as the NFL gave LA a few opportunities to prove themselves in their first season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Here are four things to take away from the schedule release.
Harbaugh Bowl in primetime
It seems only right that the first matchup between the Harbaugh brothers in Jim’s return to the NFL is under the brightest lights possible. While Jim has been away leading Michigan to a national championship, John has remained the coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who will travel to Los Angeles the week of Thanksgiving for Monday Night Football on ESPN.
The matchup also brings two of the best quarterbacks in the league to primetime television, with Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens against Chargers franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. New Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz also spent 25 years with the Ravens climbing through the front office ranks.
No Thursday Night Football
The Chargers are one of only six teams not to be featured on Thursday Night Football in 2024, joining the Panthers, Colts, Jaguars, Titans, and Cardinals. Of those six teams, Los Angeles has the most primetime games this season with three—two on Monday Night Football and one on Sunday Night Football.
Most Thursday Night Football matchups are divisional showdowns, but Las Vegas and Kansas City are booked for the Black Friday game on Amazon Prime this year. That would leave the Broncos, who will instead appear on Amazon’s broadcast against the Saints in Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans. Instead, the Chargers’ divisional matchup with the Chiefs in Week 14 will be on Sunday night on NBC.
Key home stretch
After traveling to Cleveland in Week 9, the Chargers get three straight AFC opponents at home in consecutive weeks, which could ultimately be a key stretch for a potential playoff push. LA plays Tennessee in Week 10, Cincinnati in Week 11, and has the aforementioned Baltimore game in Week 12 before going on the road to face Atlanta and Kansas City in Weeks 13 and 14.
While the Titans may not be a consensus playoff contender, LA’s last four games against Tennessee have ended with a total score differential of 2 points in the Titans’ favor….
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