CHARGERS (11-6) at TEXANS (10-7)
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 2.5 points
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: WR Joshua Palmer (foot). DOUBTFUL: DB Ja’Sir Taylor (rib). QUESTIONABLE: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), RB J.K. Dobbins (ankle), WR Simi Fehoko (elbow), WR Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness), LB Denzel Perryman (groin), RG Trey Pipkins III (oblique).
Texans: OUT: G Shaq Mason (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DL Denico Autry (knee), LB Christian Harris (ankle), WR John Metchie III (shoulder), TE Teagan Quitoriano (calf).
What’s at stake: The winner moves on to play again next week and the loser goes on vacation. The Chargers could use a playoff victory after their last trip to the postseason ended with an epic collapse in the second half of a 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers built a 27-0 lead by the second quarter, but couldn’t move the ball in the second half and couldn’t stop the Jaguars’ relentless offense. It signaled the end might be near for Brandon Staley as coach and Tom Telesco as general manager. They kept their jobs for the time being, but were eventually jettisoned before the end of the 2023 season. A new era started with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as coach and Joe Hortiz as general manager.
Who’s better: The Chargers had the better record during the regular season and played in a more competitive division, with three teams advancing to the playoffs. The oddsmakers favor the Chargers by a slim margin. So, let’s say the Chargers are the better team.
Matchup to watch: Can the Chargers protect quarterback Justin Herbert? Defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson of the Texans menaced opposing quarterbacks during the regular season. Hunter had 12 sacks and Anderson had 11. Herbert and the Chargers’ offense appeared to be peaking at the right time, rolling up big yards and plenty of points during a three-game winning streak to end the regular season. After several of their linemen battled some nagging injuries, the Chargers’ O-line appears to be sound again, especially left tackle Rashawn Slater, a Pro Bowl pick.
Chargers win if: The Texans can’t contain Herbert, then the Chargers are likely to win and advance. Herbert enters the playoffs by completing 73% of his passes for almost 1,000 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception in his past three games. The Chargers averaged 36 points per game in those victories over the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders. Before that, the Chargers averaged 21 points in their first 14 games.
Fantasy sleeper: Cameron Dicker was the AFC special teams Player of the Week for consecutive weeks. He’s made 39 of 42 field goal attempts this season, including 20 of 23 from beyond 40 yards. He’s been especially accurate from beyond 50 yards, making nine of 11. He booted four field goals during the Chargers’ 34-20 victory over the Raiders on Sunday to set a franchise record of 150 points in a season, breaking Nate Kaeding’s mark of 146 in 2009. Dicker also set a Chargers record with 39 field goals this season, topping the previous mark of 34 shared by Nick Novak in 2013 and John Carney in 1994. Dicker’s previous best was 31 in 2023.
Prediction: It’s difficult to pick against the Chargers after the season they have had in Harbaugh’s first season. It seemed inevitable that they would end up in the playoffs and it seems like a mortal lock that they’ll defeat the Texans and advance to the divisional round. Chargers 24, Texans 21.