T
he Los Angeles Chargers have reached heights not seen since the start of the century. Off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2022, the 2025 Chargers have been one of the NFL’s most impressive teams so far this campaign, and are proving themselves to be major Super Bowl contenders. One of only six undefeated teams left, the Chargers are hungry for more.
There is still plenty of football left to be played, but ahead of week four, Sports Illustrated ranked all of the NFL’s remaining undefeated teams and gave the Chargers a favorable ranking–putting them at No. 2. Going 11-6 in 2024 before falling to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card, the Chargers came into 2025 with a major chip on their shoulder and have done a great job of responding so far.
Sports Illustrated’s Chargers Ranking
The Chargers invested a lot this offseason on revamping their roster, adding key pieces to the offense to give quarterback Justin Herbert more options to work with. And as soon as the season started, the Chargers wasted no time in showing that they are a much improved team from a season ago, beating the three-time defending AFC champions, Kansas City Chiefs, in week one. Sports Illustrated picked that game as the Chargers most impressive win thus far.
“The Chargers immediately showed they’re a different team by beating the Chiefs in the season opener in Brazil,” Sports Illustrated writer, Gilberto Manzano, said. “These aren’t the same ol’ Chargers that find the worst ways to lose, evident by the three consecutive wins against AFC West opponents. More importantly, these Chargers are different because no quarterback has played better through three weeks than Justin Herbert, who made clutch plays vs. the Chiefs and Broncos.”
Herbert has been playing lights out to start the season along with the offense. Keenan Allen, who returned to the team on a one-year deal during training camp, is showing that he is still elite even at age 33, while young guys like Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston continue to evolve into stars. Add that to the Chargers elite defense, and you have a team that could go very far this season.
The Chargers’ Record Prediction
Sports Illustrated gave their final record prediction for all the remaining undefeated teams, predicting that the Chargers would finish 14-3 and win their most amount of games since 2006– where they finished 14-2.
“The Chargers are in perfect position to capture their first AFC West title since 2009 after beating the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders to start the year,” Manzano said. “Outside of a matchup against the Commanders in Week 5, the Chargers should cruise until a tough December slate when they face the Eagles, Chiefs and Broncos. Again, good luck trying to put away this team with how well they’re playing on both sides of the football.”
If the Chargers are able to win the AFC West this season, it will mark the first time since 2015 that a team other than the Chiefs won the division. And taking home a division crown would be the first step towards the Chargers achieving their ultimate goal– winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history.