Buccaneers vs. Chargers: All-Time Matchup History
Head-to-Head Snapshot
All-Time Record: Chargers lead series 8–5 (.385)First Meeting: 1976Most Recent Meeting: 2024 seasonPostseason Meetings: None
Last Five Matchups
2024: Buccaneers 40, Chargers 17 (away)2020: Buccaneers 38, Chargers 31 (home)2016: Buccaneers 28, Chargers 21 (away)2012: Buccaneers 34, Chargers 24 (home)2008: Chargers 41, Buccaneers 24 (home)
Series Overview
The Chargers were the Buccaneers’ opponent in the very first regular-season home game in Tampa Bay history, in Week Two of the 1976 season. Then based in San Diego, the Chargers shut out the fledgling Buccaneers and proceeded to win the next five meetings in the series, too, stretching through the 1993 season. Tampa Bay’s first win in the series was in 1996 but they have prevailed in five of the last seven meetings.
Notable Matchups
2020 Regular Season: In what was Justin Herbert’s third career start for the Chargers and Tom Brady’s fifth game for the Buccaneers, the Bucs rallied from 17 down to take a 38-31 shootout behind five Brady touchdown passes.1996 Regular Season: In the game that was considered the turning point for the franchisebefore it entered its first Super Bowl era, the Bucs overcome an early two-touchdown deficit in San Diego and win 25-17 on the strength of interceptions by John Lynch, Donnie Abraham and Charles Dimry.1981 Regular Season: Doug Williams and Dan Fouts dueled it out at Tampa Stadium, with the Chargers winning, 24-23, on a last-minute field goal, forcing the Bucs into a winner-take-all game in Detroit in Week 16 for the NFC Central crown.
Series Trends
The Buccaneers’ current run of four straight wins over the Chargers is their longest active streak against any opponentTampa Bay has just a 2-5 record at home against the Chargers but have played them even in six games held in CaliforniaThe winning team in the 13 Bucs-Chargers games has averaged exactly 31 points per contestThe Bucs are 2-0 against the Chargers since the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 2017
2025-26 Los Angeles Chargers Season Snapshot
2025 Record: 11–6Division Finish: 2nd in AFC WestPlayoffs: Lost to Patriots in Wild Card Round2026 Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (third year)
OLB Akheem Mesidor, C Tyler Biadasz, G Jake Slaughter, TE Charlie Kolar, G Cole Strange, WR Brenen Thompson, RB Keaton Mitchell, FB Alec Ingold, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, OLB Akheem Mesidor
C Bradley Bozeman, G Mekhi Becton, TE Will Dissly, OLB Odafe Oweh, G Zion Johnson, CB Benjamin St-Juste, DL Da’shawn Hand, DL Otito Ogbannia, G Jamaree Salyer, TE Tyler Conklin
QB Justin Herbert, RB Omarion Hampton, T Rashawn Slater, T Joe Alt, WR Ladd McConkey, DL Teair Tart, LB Denzel Perryman, OLB Khalil Mac, S Derwin James
Full Matchup History