Los Angeles Chargers vs Washington Commanders NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

The Washington Commanders (2-2) make the trip west to SoFi Stadium to square off with the Los Angeles Chargers (3-1) in a Week 5 matchup that has both teams looking to get back on track.

Washington enters this one licking its wounds after a 34-27 shootout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a game that slipped away late and left the Commanders stuck in neutral at .500. They'll return home to face Chicago next week, but right now the focus is on proving they can hang with a playoff-caliber team on the road.

The Chargers, meanwhile, had their perfect start spoiled in Week 4 by the New York Giants. Despite hanging around all afternoon, LA fell just short in a 21-18 loss that left fans frustrated after such a hot start to the season. At 3-1, the Bolts still look like a real threat in the AFC, but they’ll want to put that stumble behind them quickly before heading out for a tough trip to Miami.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Washington Commanders kick-off time

NFL

SoFi Stadium

The Chargers and the Commanders will meet in Week 5 of the NFL season at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, October 5, starting at 4:25 pm ET.

Team news & squads

Los Angeles Chargers team news

The Chargers have looked far steadier. At 3-1, they've quietly become one of the AFC's most balanced teams. They're averaging 22 points a game, but what really jumps out is the defense, holding opponents to just 17.8 points per outing. Even in last week's loss, it wasn't the defense that let them down; the offense simply stalled.

With Joe Alt listed as doubtful while battling a high ankle sprain, the Chargers trotted out a patchwork offensive line on Wednesday: Jamaree Salyer, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, and Trey Pipkins. Becton is still navigating concussion protocol but returned to practice for the first time this week. Salyer took first-team reps over Austin Deculus, who filled in at left tackle when Alt was out against the Giants, as Salyer was covering for Becton. Bottom line: the Chargers are painfully thin at tackle, and if LA hopes to exploit a Commanders defense that has surrendered the fifth-most explosive plays in the league, pass protection will have to hold up on Sunday.

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Washington Commanders team news

The Washington Commanders, on the other hand, have been the definition of streaky through the first month of the season. On paper, they’re putting up a healthy 26.8 points per game, but that number dips to just 22.5 in their two losses, a clear sign of how inconsistent this offense has been. On the defensive side, the story’s the same. Washington is giving up a respectable 22.8 points per contest overall, but in the games they’ve lost, that ballooned to 30.5.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced Wednesday morning that franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels is officially cleared for full practice. In his absence, Marcus Mariota stepped in, going 1-1—earning a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in his first start but falling to the Atlanta Falcons last week.

Washington's top trio of receivers – Terry McLaurin (quad), Deebo Samuel (heel), and Noah Brown (groin/knee) – all missed Wednesday's practice. That leaves questions about who Jayden Daniels will actually be throwing to in his return. Rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane is next in line based on snap counts, but he’s seen just 37.8% of the Commanders’ offensive snaps through four games. Chris Moore and Luke McCaffrey are also on the depth chart, but with two of the top three potentially sidelined, the Chargers might get aggressive, daring Daniels and a makeshift group of receivers to carry the offense.

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Watch and live stream Chargers vs Commanders in the USA

The Chargers vs Commanders game in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on FOX. Fans can catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).

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More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Chargers vs Commanders worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

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How to buy Chargers vs Commanders tickets

The showdown between the Chargers and the Commanders is set for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, a venue that packs in up to 70,000 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

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Chargers vs Commanders Fantasy Football

Justin Herbert started the season on fire as the QB5 (27.9 points) but has cooled off, posting QB16 (18.8 points), QB13 (14.6 points), and QB23 (12.5 points) over the last three weeks. His accuracy has been shaky, completing under 60% of passes in his last two outings and averaging just 6.4 and 5.0 yards per attempt with three interceptions. Still, with the Chargers favored heavily at home, plus injuries and byes impacting the QB landscape, Herbert remains a solid QB1 option for Week 5.

Quentin Johnston has cemented himself as a go-to weapon in the Chargers offense, making him an upside WR2/WR3 for fantasy lineups this week. Omarion Hampton is flying under the radar but has surged into RB1 territory after his 128-yard, 27.5-point breakout in Week 4, thanks to his growing role as both a rusher and receiver.

Ladd McConkey has struggled to start the year, sitting third on the team with 16 catches for 174 yards and no scores on 27 targets. Facing a Washington secondary prone to giving up big plays, McConkey has a prime chance to break out, something the Chargers desperately need to keep their season on track.

Over in Washington, optimism is high that Jayden Daniels will return Sunday after missing two weeks with a knee injury. If he can't go, Mariota is ready to step back in. When active, Daniels slots as a fantasy QB1 thanks to his explosive per-play potential and the current QB landscape riddled with injuries and byes.

Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel Sr. is emerging as a strong WR2 option with clear upside. With Terry McLaurin sidelined, Samuel's value is boosted by his consistent target share, heavy slot usage, and favorable matchup against a zone-heavy Chargers defense, making him a fantasy asset to trust in Week 5.

Chargers vs Commanders Game Predictions

The Chargers head into Week 5 still stinging from that letdown against the Giants, but this matchup sets up as the perfect get-right spot. Washington is limping into SoFi with a laundry list of injuries, and even at full strength, they've been shaky. Expect Justin Herbert and company to come out firing, put this one out of reach early, and remind everyone why they're a legitimate AFC contender. Look for the Bolts to roll at home, not only grabbing the win but covering with room to spare.

Final Score Prediction: Chargers cruise past the Commanders, 31-14.

Chargers vs Commanders Betting Odds

Spread

Commanders +2.5 (-105)

Chargers -2.5 (-105)

Moneyline

Commanders: +120

Chargers: -142

Total

47.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

LAC

Last 5 matches

WAS

4

Wins

0

Draws

1

Win

• Washington Commanders

  16

  -

  20

  Los Angeles Chargers

• Los Angeles Chargers

  30

  -

  13

  Washington Commanders

• Washington Commanders

  30

  -

  24

  Los Angeles Chargers

• Los Angeles Chargers

  23

  -

  20

  Washington Commanders

• Washington Commanders

  17

  -

  23

  Los Angeles Chargers

Useful links

• Chargers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Commanders 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)