The Chargers had a 6-0 lead in the 2024 Wild Card Round playoff game against the Texans at NRG Stadium. Things then got even worse as a third down shotgun snap went through the hands of QB C.J. Stroud. But, then that game took the wildest turn as Stroud corralled the loose football and threw a dart to Xavier Hutchinson for a first down. The Texans rode the momentum of that play, outsourcing the Chargers 32-6 over the last 32 minutes of that game for a decisive 32-12 playoff game win.
Revenge is always on the table, I suppose, and the Chargers would like a bit of it as the Texans travel to play the Chargers in Los Angeles for the first time in six years. When the Texans last played the Chargers in Los Angeles, their QB was a man named Philip Rivers, who is now the starting QB for the Indianapolis Colts. It's like time never stopped. Anyhow, the Texans have never played the Chargers at SoFi and this will be the Texans second regular season trip to SoFi, first to play the Chargers.
There's little question that Chargers signal caller Justin Herbert is looking for retribution after a four interception performance in that playoff loss last year. But, the Texans also want a measure of retribution as they went to SoFi in week one and lost narrowly to LA's other squad - the Rams.
Then, there's the postseason angle to this one. The Chargers are in, but can still win the AFC West with a win. The Texans are not in, need just a win to get in though, not to mention, keeping their AFC South division championship hopes alive. Yeah, so, it's a BIG matchup out in the City of Angels.
So, let's get to Know the Texans' Foe for their final regular season road trip of the season - the 2025 Los Angeles Chargers.
2025 Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
Week 1 - W Kansas City Chiefs (Brazil) 27-21
Week 2 - W @ Las Vegas Raiders 20-9
Week 3 - W Denver Broncos 23-20
Week 4 - L @ New York Giants 21-18
Week 5 - L Washington Commanders 27-10
Week 6 - W @ Miami Dolphins 29-27
Week 7 - L Indianapolis Colts 38-24
Week 8 - W Minnesota Vikings 37-10
Week 9 - W @ Tennessee Titans 27-20
Week 10 - W Pittsburgh Steelers 25-10
Week 11 L @ Jacksonville Jaguars 35-6
Week 12 - BYE WEEK
Week 13 - W Las Vegas Raiders 31-14
Week 14 - W Philadelphia Eagles 22-19 (OT)
Week 15 - W @ Kansas City Chiefs 16-13
Week 16 - W @ Dallas Cowboys 34-17
Week 17 - Houston Texans
Week 18 - @ Denver Broncos
Chargers OFFENSE (in 2025 regular season)
- Rushing Yards Per game - 125.3 ypg (6th in the NFL)
- Passing Yards Per game - 220.2 ypg (13th)
- Total offense per game - 345.5 ypg (11th)
- Turnovers lost - 18 (6 Fumble lost, 12 INT thrown)
Other Key Offensive pieces
- QB - Justin Herbert
- RB - OMARION HAMPTON
- WR - KEENAN ALLEN
- WR - Ladd McConkey
- WR - Quentin Johnston
- TE - ORONDE GADSDEN II
- LT - Jamaree Salyer (injured last week) or AUSTIN DECULUS
- LG - Zion Johnson
- C - Bradley Bozeman
- RG - MEKHI BECTON
- RT - BOBBY HART or TREY PIPKINS III (Injured, missed last week)
Key Offensive Non-Starters
- FB - Scott Matlock
- WR - KeANDRE LAMBERT-SMITH
- WR - TRE HARRIS
- TE - Will Dissly
- RB - HASSAN HASKINS
- OL - TREVOR PENNING
- QB - TREY LANCE
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2025
Keys to winning v. the Chargers Offense
- The Straw Stirring the Chargers Drink - We've known for a while how good the quarterbacks in the AFC are. Mahomes. Allen. Jackson. Burrow. Drake Maye. The Texans have beaten all five within the past three seasons, except for Lamar Jackson, who was injured when the Texans beat Baltimore in week five. Then, there's Chargers star QB Justin Herbert, who can either get completely overlooked or completely overhyped, no in between, when talk of the best AFC QBs commences. Some are mentioning him as a dark horse MVP candidate and that talk is absolutely warranted. With a broken left hand, Herbert has carried an offense that lost both star starting tackles and missed one starting RB all season long (Najee Harris) and one rookie starting running back for multiple weeks (Omarion Hampton). Last year, he played cleaner, throwing just three interceptions heading into the playoff game against the Texans, but this year, he's thrown 12 INT, yet, YET, he's that much more dangerous and productive. He's taking off with the football, using his legs MUCH more than ever. He has 151 more rushing yards in 2025 than in 2024 in two less games, with just eight more carries. Yet, he's still dangerous on every single throw, perhaps even more so when he's throwing on the run or evading a muddy pocket. He may not get the hype/run that other AFC QBs get, but he's as capable of putting up a big number on the Texans when the Chargers need it the most.
- Ladede, part 2 - I don't know that I've heard NRG Stadium as loud as it was after two consecutive sacks of Chargers QB Justin Herbert in the fourth quarter of last year's playoff game. Then, on third and forever, Herbert RIPPED a fastball to rookie WR Ladd McConkey and the former Georgia star WR showed why I thought he was one of the best WRs already in the AFC. His feet hit the ground after making the catch and then he sped the rest of the field for a touchdown. And, when I tell you no one came close to catching him, NO ONE came close to catching him. He finished that playoff game with nine catches for 197 yards and that long catch and run TD. This year's return of Keenan Allen and presence of big body Quentin Johnston has bolstered this receiving corps yet McConkey is the key again this year. He hasn't been as vital on third downs and in big play situations because Allen is a third down monster. But, the Chargers will certainly move McConkey around the formation to unearth coverage keys so it's important for the Texans' DBs to communicate well and make sure #15's impact on this game is minimized.
- The MAIN Battle - Early in training camp, the Chargers lost Pro Bowl OT Rashawn Slater for the season due to injury. Midway through the season, the Chargers lost second year, ascending OT Joe Alt, who had taken reps at LT in Slater's stead. Then, on Sunday, the Chargers saw versatile OL Jamaree Salyer leave the game with an injury. Now, it's not as if the Texans are fully healthy on the defensive line, but they do have Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter ready to rock on Sunday. But, getting to Herbert and finishing on Herbert in the backfield are two different things this year. Herbert, as I mentioned above, is quicker to take off and get the heck out of dodge to avoid sacks. Even in facing 2nd and/or 3rd string OT, the Texans edge rushers have to be smart in how they attack Herbert and not leave gaping holes he can exploit. There's winning and there's finishing. The Texans stars need to do both on Herbert as they did in last year's playoff game.
Chargers DEFENSE (in 2025 regular season)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per game - 103.8 ypg (11th in the NFL)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per game - 179.3 ypg (6th)
- Total offense Allowed per game - 283.1 ypg (3rd)
- Turnovers generated - 21 (17 INT, 4 Fumble recoveries - Chargers are +3 in TO margin)
Expected Chargers starting defense for Week 17
- Edge - Khalil Mack
- DT - Da'Shawn Hand
- NT - TEAIR TART
- DE - JAMAREE CALDWELL
- OLB - Tuli Tuipolotu (Pro Bowler)
- LB - Daiyan Henley
- LB - Troy Dye
- Nickel/LB/S/CB - Derwin James
- CB - Cam Hart
- S - Tony Jefferson
- S - ELIJAH MOLDEN
- CB - Tarheeb Still
Key Defensive Non-Starters
- LB/ST - DEL'SHAWN PHILLIPS
- OLB - ODAFE OWEH
- DT - Otito Ogbonnia
- DE - Justin Eboigbe
- OLB - Bud Dupree
- S - R.J. MICKENS
- CB - DONTE JACKSON
- CB - BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2025
Italics - Rookie
Keys to winning v. the Chargers Defense
- A different kind of Henley Regatta - Four years ago, I made a habit out of watching MWC football…for some reason. I liked the Nevada Wolf Pack because of WR Romeo Doubs, eventually ending up in Green Bay. So, I had them on one night against Utah State or some team of that ilk and I couldn't take my eyes off one player. This #11 was a stud off the edge. Who is that guy? Daiyan Henley was his name but when I went to watch Nevada the following year, transfer portal magic made him disappear. Then, one night I happened to be watching Washington State and their #1, playing inside linebacker, was dominating the game. He had a pick six at one point and tackled everything in sight. The game broadcasters said his name was Daiyan Henley and it hit me that was MY guy. I loved him as a draft prospect and hate that the Texans have to find a way to slow down one of the more underrated young players in the league. He has a nose for the ball, short area quicks and toughness for days. The Texans haven't always gotten a hat on inside backers this year in the run game and that's been the whole key to their running game in 2025. Get a hat on backer, control the front, run for chunks of yards. If not, Henley will have double digit tackles and lead his defense to a win.
- Derwin's Dominance - Derwin is Derwin James and he might be able to do more on a field than any other safety in the NFL. As such, the Texans need to know where he is on every play and have an approximate understanding of what he can do at that spot on every play. He's covered every single pass catching position on the field. He's a fixture in the run defense. He's a physical presence all over the field. Find #3. Have a plan for him. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time and the fourth time in the last four years. He's making impact plays when he's down at the line of scrimmage. The Texans know that he's more of an OLB when he's at the line of scrimmage and that he has to be accounted for in the right way or he can ruin a play, series or game. But, in the playoff game, he ran step for step with TE Dalton Schultz and nearly, NEARLY, made the play of the game, but couldn't quite hold on to an interception in the end zone. The Texans kicked a field goal a few plays later that put the Texans out in front by a touchdown. So, James is a problem…and a BIG one that the Texans have to snuff out early and often.
- Mack is BACK - 2014 feels like EONS ago and in football years, it is. The Texans had the first pick in that draft and selected Jadeveon Clowney. A few picks later, the Oakland Raiders selected a dynamic game changer from a Group of Five school that was rarely mentioned as a college football power. But, Khalil Mack put the University of Buffalo on the map and he made sure everyone knew that he should've been the Texans' number one pick. Three All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl bids should put him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot when his career is up. But, even after 11.5 years of pure greatness (he only played seven games in 2021 for the Bears), Mack has been outstanding in 2025. He seems to have found the fountain of youth playing out on the edge and he's potentially facing the Texans' two backup tackles. Where Mack has always been a force is setting the edge in the run game. Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans pointed that out as a weak spot in the run game against the Raiders, so Mack is not going to make run game blocking any easier this weekend. #52 must still be accounted for no matter where he is on the field, 12 years into a Hall of Fame career.
