The Denver Broncos will take on the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. At 2-2, the Broncos are looking to bounce back after their Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Chargers are winless on the season, depleted by injuries, and have major issues on offense and defense. Here’s a deeper look at Denver’s Week 5 opponent.
2025 Los Angeles Chargers Season Review
The Chargers finished their 2025 regular season with an 11-6 record that secured second place in the AFC West. They lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Wildcard Round.
2026 Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Additions and Departures
The Chargers made some big additions this offseason. Unfortunately, some of those players haven’t been able to stay healthy. Tyler Biadasz was their big addition to bolster their pivot of their offensive line, but he suffered a knee injury in the offseason and is out for the rest of the year. They also added two tight ends in David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. Njoku’s season is over after suffering a broken foot, while Kolar suffered a broken arm and is questionable against Denver on Sunday.
They chose to re-up the contracts of several key players on defense including edge rusher Khalil Mack, safety Tony Jefferson, as well as versatile interior defensive lineman Teair Tart. Their most notable departure was edge rusher Odafe Oweh who signed a lucrative 4-year, $96 million contract with the Washington Commanders.
Los Angeles has eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Miami standout Akheem Mesidor was their first-round pick to bolster their pass rush, while they continued to bolster their offense by drafting Florida center Jake Slaughter in the second round. Fourth-round pick Genesis Smith, a versatile defensive back, has two interceptions on the season and has taken half of their defense’s snaps so far.
Offensive X-Factor: Quarterback Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert is off to a rough start in his 2026 season. The seventh-year signal caller is posting career lows across the board. His completion percentage was less than 60-percent. Not only that, but Herbert was also sacked 12 times and sported more interceptions (6) than touchdowns (4).
It’s not all Herbert’s fault. His offensive line is very strong, and the lack of quality protection up front is a big reason why the Chargers are struggling on offense. Even with his issues so far, I still dub him their X-Factor on offense. We’ve seen him play big games against the Broncos in the past. Denver can’t afford to let him and the winless Chargers find a way to pull off an upset victory.
Patrick Surtain II will be out for Sunday’s game and there’s a good chance Riley Moss will be as well. That means Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine will start on the border. To help the secondary, this is a game where the pass rush needs to kick into high gear. The Chargers may be without three starters up front. All things considered, this should be a beneficial matchup for Denver to get back on track with sacking opposing quarterbacks.
Defensive X-Factor: Edge Rusher Tuli Tuipulotu
Like their offense, the Chargers’ defense isn’t firing on all cylinders. There has been a significant drop in their cohesion compared to last season where they were a top ten unit in the NFL. Right now, they’re in the middle of the pack in scoring defense and below league-average when it comes to defending the run and pass.
However, one particular player is still playing well. That’s Tuli Tuipulotu. The fourth-year edge rusher is coming off an excellent campaign on the 2025 gridiron. He posted 45 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and 61 quarterback pressures. That production earned him the first Pro Bowl honor of his promising career.
Through four games, Tuipulotu has 18 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, two sacks, and 13 pressures. There’s been a slight dip in his rushing and pressure rates, but they’re still pretty good for the position overall. He is a quality pass rusher who can also destroy an opposing run game. The Broncos’ offensive line will have to be ready for his big game and play at a high level to prevent him.
How the Broncos can secure victory against the Chargers
ICYMI: Yesterday, I gave three things the Broncos must do to get their third win of the season. Even though the Chargers are winless on the year, Denver has to treat Sunday’s matchup as a must-win game. They have a lot to prove and have yet to play a complete game in all three phases. All things considered, I think they will find a way to beat their division rival and get their third victory of the season.
Hart’s prediction: Broncos 27, Chargers 17.