You probably sat down, grabbed a drink, and started scrolling through the guide only to realize something’s off. If you’re looking for a charger game televised today, you’re going to be staring at a blank screen—or at least a screen without Jim Harbaugh on the sideline.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The harsh reality? The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2025-2026 season officially hit a wall just four days ago. While the NFL playoffs are still very much alive and kicking, the Bolts are already back in Costa Mesa packing up their lockers. It’s a bummer, honestly. After an 11-6 regular season that felt like the start of something special, the momentum vanished in the freezing air of Foxborough.
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What happened to the Chargers?
Sunday’s Wild Card game against the New England Patriots was... well, it was a struggle. If you missed it, you didn't miss a shootout. The Chargers fell 16-3. Justin Herbert was under siege the entire night, getting sacked six times. The offense, which had its moments during the year, just couldn’t find the end zone.
New England’s rookie sensation Drake Maye outplayed the veteran Chargers defense, and just like that, the "Harbaugh Year One" hype train pulled into the station.
Since they lost in the opening round, there is no game today. In fact, there aren't any NFL games today. The league decided to scrap Thursday night playoff games this year to give teams more recovery time. The Divisional Round doesn't actually start until Saturday, January 17.
Looking for the next charger game televised today?
You won't find one for a while. Because the Chargers were eliminated, their next televised game won't be until the 2026 preseason in August.
If you're just looking for football to fill the void, here is what the actual televised schedule looks like for the rest of this week:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET on FOX)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET on NBC)
Basically, if you want to root for a "home" team, the Rams are the only ones left standing in SoFi.
The fallout in El Segundo
It’s not just quiet on the field; things are getting loud in the front office. Just this morning, General Manager Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh started the "renovation." That's his word, not mine.
The team fired Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman and Offensive Line Coach Mike Devlin on Tuesday. Honestly, after seeing the way the line crumbled against the Patriots' pass rush, it's not a huge shock. Herbert is too talented to be running for his life every third down.
On top of that, NaVorro Bowman is heading out too. He’s leaving the linebackers coach role to focus on his son’s high school basketball career. It feels like a total reset for the coaching staff around Herbert.
Why the 2026 schedule matters now
Even though there’s no charger game televised today, we already know who they’ll be playing next season. Since they finished second in the AFC West, the 2026 schedule is actually looking pretty brutal.
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They’ll host the usual divisional rivals (Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos) but also have home games against the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The big one everyone is circling? A home matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
On the road, they have to travel to Buffalo and Baltimore. Those are not easy places to play in December.
Actionable steps for Chargers fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you can stay locked in during the offseason:
- Monitor the OC Search: Watch for names like Kliff Kingsbury or rising stars from the Shanahan coaching tree. The Chargers are looking for someone who can modernize the passing game to match Herbert’s arm talent.
- Free Agency Watch: The Chargers have some cap space to play with, and the offensive line needs a veteran anchor. Keep an eye on the legal tampering period starting in March.
- The Draft: With a mid-round pick, the focus is almost certainly going to be on a dynamic WR or a franchise-level tackle.
- Check Local Listings in August: The first televised glimpse of the "New" Chargers will be the Hall of Fame game or the first week of the 2026 preseason.
The season ended sooner than anyone wanted, but the "renovation" is officially underway. If you're looking for football tonight, your best bet is to fire up some highlights or wait for the Bills and Broncos to kick off the Divisional Round this Saturday.