It never rains in Southern California, as Albert Hammond (and Raphael Saadiq) insisted. But, just this one time, can lightning strike in Inglewood?With Justin Herbert in the pocket and Jim Harbaugh on the headset, the Los Angeles Chargers have put together back-to-back 11-6 efforts. It’s been a respectable run, but both of those seasons ended in dispiriting wild-card knockouts. Is a powder-blue breakout in the cards for 2026? Can the “Super Chargers” actually push for a Super Bowl, one in their home stadium at that?Herbert’s returning targets include chain-mover Ladd McConkey and field-stretcher Quentin Johnston. He also has two new tight ends in Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. Running back Omarion Hampton, a 2025 first-round draft pick, returns from an injury-shortened rookie season with considerable upside. And the whole offense should get some much-needed protection if tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are healthy again. Let’s see what new coordinator Mike McDaniel can do with a clean slate.L.A.’s defense fields an electric front between Pro Bowl edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, hometown favorite Daiyan Henley, hyped-up rookie Akheem Mesidor and likely Hall of Famer Khalil Mack. As usual, Derwin James Jr. captains the secondary. While former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is now leading the Baltimore Ravens, successor Chris O’Leary takes on a group that ranked No. 5 in yards allowed and No. 9 in scoring D last season.The Chargers are set for three primetime matchups this fall, plus late-season flex games against the rival Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. Use this guide below to refresh on the national TV rotation, plus the streaming restrictions for in- and out-of-market fans. Follow both the team itself and beat writer Daniel Popper on The Athletic.All times listed below are ET.The full 2026 Los Angeles Chargers schedule Wk.MatchupDateTimeNetwork1 Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 13 4:25 p.m. CBS 2 Raiders Sunday, Sept. 20 4:05 p.m. CBS 3@ Bills Sunday, Sept. 27 1:00 p.m. Fox 4@ Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 4 4:25 p.m. CBS 5 Broncos Sunday, Oct. 11 4:05 p.m. CBS 6@ Chiefs Sunday, Oct. 18 4:25 p.m. CBS 7 BYE 8@ Rams Sunday, Nov. 1 4:05 p.m. Fox 9 Texans Sunday, Nov. 8 4:05 p.m. CBS 10@ Ravens Monday, Nov. 16 8:15 p.m. ESPN 11 Jets Sunday, Nov. 22 4:05 p.m. Fox 12 Patriots Sunday, Nov. 29 8:20 p.m. NBC 13@ Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 6 1:00 p.m. CBS 14@ Raiders Sunday, Dec. 13 4:05 p.m. CBS 15 49ers Thursday, Dec. 17 8:15 p.m. Prime 16@ Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 27 1:00 p.m. Fox 17 Chiefs TBA 18@ Broncos TBA Times in Eastern. Cable/satellite/streaming baseThe most expansive option for live game coverage is a multichannel plan. That includes streamers like Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV, or more traditional providers like DirecTV, Dish and Xfinity. We lay out cord-cutting alternatives for each NFL media partner down below, but there’s a certain peace of mind to the consolidation of pay television.Is Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert facing a crossroads in 2026?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenCBSMain window: Sunday afternoon (in-market fans)Playoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, AFC Championship GameEach week, CBS carries games across two Sunday kickoff slots: one at 1 p.m., and another at 4:05 p.m. or the national window at 4:25 p.m. There will be 10 nationwide Sunday doubleheaders this year on CBS. Broadcasts are set by region when there are multiple offerings in a spot.It’s not a clean split, but CBS is known as the primary home of the AFC. The network’s theme music is a certified slapper.Its main pregame show, “The NFL Today,” adds recent retirees Russell Wilson and Kyle Long to its studio crew. CBS announcers include Jim Nantz and Ian Eagle, while the color commentary rotation stars JJ Watt.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an indoor TV antenna for free over-the-air viewing. Local CBS games also stream on Paramount+.FoxMain window: Sunday afternoon (in-market fans)Playoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, NFC Championship GameLike CBS, Fox splits Sunday afternoons between early 1 p.m. action and later 4:05/4:25 p.m. matchups. Its centerpiece is branded as “America’s Game of the Week.” Unlike CBS, Fox has a dancing robot named Cleatus. It’s the nominal network for the NFC as well.Kevin Burkhardt, Joe Davis and Adam Amin are the lead play-by-play voices. Burkhardt pairs with Tom Brady, while Davis calls games alongside Greg Olsen. Amin is partnered with former Chargers quarterback Drew Brees. Some Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Fox Deportes.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for free over-the-air viewing. Local Fox games also stream on Fox One.NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZoneMain window: Sunday afternoon (out-of-market fans)These two are the access points for all non-national matchups that aren’t on regional CBS or Fox.NFL Sunday Ticket has full games. It’s exclusive to YouTube and YouTube TV. Those without a YouTube TV plan can still get NFL Sunday Ticket as a primetime channel through the standard YouTube app.RedZone is the whip-around program that jumps around the slate to cover scoring drives. This is the place for Scott Hanson, “the witching hour” and chaotic octobox split screens. It can be added to NFL Sunday Ticket, and it’s included on some high-end pay TV sports plans.RedZone also lives on NFL+ Premium, which can be bundled with the ESPN Unlimited plan.What you’ll need to watch: An NFL Sunday Ticket subscription through YouTube TV or the YouTube app; NFL RedZone access through select pay TV packages, ESPN Unlimited or NFL+ Premium.NBC and PeacockMain window: Sunday nightPlayoffs: 2 wild-card games, 1 divisional gameThis is the faithful home of “Sunday Night Football” each weekend. And because everything has to be confusing, the NBC lineup opens with a Wednesday night season premiere. At least SNF has a consistent 8:20 p.m. start time.Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are in the booth, with Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines. Carrie Underwood sings about waiting all day for Sunday night. NBC’s “Football Night in America” pregame show brings on longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Telemundo has the telecasts in Spanish.The network has two extra Saturday offerings for Week 17. One is exclusive to Peacock, and both matchups will be announced later in the season. The same goes for NBC’s Week 18 regular-season finale.“Sunday Night Football” is subject to flex scheduling — games can be swapped in and out of the window twice between Weeks 5-10 and any time from Weeks 11-17. This allows executives to pick games with greater playoff implications, though it leaves the actual ticket holders in a bind.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for free over-the-air viewing, or a Peacock account with the live sports plan.ABC and ESPNMain window: Monday nightPlayoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, Super Bowl LXIThe Disney networks combine to cover 17 “Monday Night Football” games. Ten of those are on both ABC and ESPN, with another seven exclusive to the latter. In Week 10, the Chargers meet up again with Minter when they visit Baltimore on MNF; it airs on ESPN only. The oft-maligned “Monday Night Football” doubleheader is now a thing of the past, at least.MNF kickoffs have 8:15 p.m. starts, and their schedule flexes can happen any time in Weeks 12-17. The two Saturday ABC/ESPN matchups in Week 18 will be set as the postseason picture sharpens.ESPN is preparing for its first Super Bowl broadcast ever on Feb. 14, 2027. It will be simulcast on ABC.Joe Buck handles play-by-play for MNF. He’s joined by analyst Troy Aikman, plus the sideline duo of Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge. Spanish-language airings can be found on ESPN Deportes. For 11 regular-season games and the Super Bowl, ESPN2 offers an alternate “ManningCast,” in which Eli and Peyton Manning watch the games with famous fans. Guests have ranged from Bill Belichick to Lil Wayne.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for ABC, or an ESPN Unlimited account.Prime VideoMain window: Thursday nightPlayoffs: 1 wild-card gameMost weeks begin with “Thursday Night Football,” which kicks off at 8:15 p.m. Those games are behind the Prime paywall, but they’re free over the air in the participants’ home markets. Flex rules around TNF are a bit less hectic, with two allotments between Weeks 13-17.Thursdays are called by Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit, with Kaylee Hartung on sideline duty. Herbstreit loves dogs; Michaels hates vegetables. Prime has Spanish-language coverage and advanced stat broadcast options within its app. Among the pregame and postgame personalities are former All-Pros Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth.What you’ll need to watch: Amazon Prime. TNF is also free on Twitch with a registered account.NFL NetworkThe league-owned media outlet is now under ESPN’s purview, thanks to a blockbuster deal that gave the NFL a 10 percent ownership stake in “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.” As of July 30, NFL Network is integrated into the ESPN Unlimited plan. It can also be accessed through NFL+ or NFL+ Premium.NFL Network has five of the international games, plus a pair of Saturday matchups in Week 16 to be revealed at least two weeks prior to Dec. 26. Those two have 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. kickoffs.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or access to NFL+, NFL+ Premium or ESPN Unlimited.NetflixRemember when Netflix was shipping DVDs in red envelopes? Now, the streaming behemoth continues to expand its relationship with the NFL. It has five regular-season games in the upcoming season, including two of the three Christmas Day marquees. Like TNF on Prime, these Netflix games are over the air in their respective local markets.As reported by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, new Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly has been tapped as Netflix’s top NFL analyst. He and Noah Eagle (son of CBS’ Ian Eagle) are on the call for the Week 1 export at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.What you’ll need to watch: A Netflix subscription.With potential primetime schedule flexes in play, watching all 17 regular-season Chargers games will cost something like $40-$125 per month for those in the Southern California market, and $115-$200 per month for out-of-towners. We calculated that through average pay TV and NFL Sunday Ticket prices, plus the lowest subscription tires for Netflix, Peacock and Prime. At least the total is a bit more manageable if Twitch is used to stream “Thursday Night Football.” Here’s to small victories.Official Chargers single-game franchise records(Through the 2025 season)