2017 Los Angeles Chargers Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info
The Los Angeles Chargers are hoping a new location and a new coach can lead to better results after a disappointing 2016 campaign.
A year after the Rams moved to Los Angeles, the Chargers did the same after 56 years in San Diego. Considering the new inner-city rival won just four games last year, it won't take much to become the best team in the City of Angels.
Of course, the Chargers will need some better luck than last year's team that finished 5-11. Not only were there brutal injuries throughout the season on both sides of the ball, nine of the 11 losses were decided by one score.
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The schedule won't get any easier in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, especially when you add in matchups against the AFC and NFC East.
This puts a lot of pressure on new coach Anthony Lynn to bring about real improvements if the team is going to reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Schedule
| 1 | Sept. 11 | at Denver Broncos | 10:20 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2 | Sept. 17 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | at New York Giants | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 15 | at Oakland Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | vs. Denver Broncos | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | at New England Patriots | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 9 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | at Dallas Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. | CBS |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | vs. Cleveland Browns | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | vs. Washington Redskins | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 16 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | at New York Jets | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | vs. Oakland Raiders | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
Analysis
Lynn made a meteoric rise up the coaching ranks over the past year, beginning last season as the Buffalo Bills running back coach, moving to offensive coordinator and eventually interim head coach in the final game.
He will get a chance to take on many of his former players when the Bills visit on Nov. 19.
While Lynn still has to prove himself as a head coach, perhaps simply a different voice in the locker room could make a difference, especially in close games.
Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who was retained through the coaching change, believes this is one of the big differences going into next season.
"We've got to find a way to win those games," Whisenhunt said, per Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. "But one of the biggest things in this league is having the opportunity to do that. If we can get over that hump, we can flip our record and put us in position to make a run at our division, and obviously the playoffs. So that's an exciting part of it."
Philip Rivers will have to cut down on his turnovers to make that happen. The veteran quarterback was in the top five of the NFL last year in passing yards (4,386) and touchdowns (33), but he also led the league with 21 interceptions.
After losing Keenan Allen, Danny Woodhead, Jason Verrett, Manti Te'o and plenty more to early-season injuries in 2016, simply staying healthy would also go a long way.
With six games against legitimate contenders within the division alone, any improvements will help for Los Angeles.
Pivotal Matchups
The matchup against the Bills will be interesting for Lynn's sake, while road games against the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots will probably be the most difficult.
However, the most important games on the schedule will be against the rest of the AFC West.
Every team is talented, but the Chargers have to at least do what they can to hold serve at home. They host the Raiders on Dec. 31, the Chiefs on Sept. 24 and the Broncos on Oct. 22. If they can win those games, they should feel pretty good about their standing within the division.
After going just 1-5 in the division a year ago, it's clear how much of a difference this could make.
Rivers and the offense will need to step up against the Chiefs and Broncos, while Joey Bosa and the defense will need to be at its best against the Raiders. All of it will be difficult, but those three games could decide the season.
With the third-toughest schedule in the NFL, per John Breech of CBSSports.com, there clearly won't be too many easy days for Los Angeles in 2017.
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