Tag: Chargers Texans

Offense nowhere to be found in Chargers’ loss to Texans: Instant analysis of wild-card game

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Texans in a game that saw Justin Herbert have arguably the worst performance of his career.

The Chargers’ season has come to a close after losing to the Texans on Saturday.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 32-12 loss to Houston.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert’s pass intended for Ladd McConkey was picked off by Eric Murray and taken back for a touchdown to extend the Texans’ lead to two scores late in the third quarter.

Notable number

Herbert is the first player in NFL history to throw more interceptions in a playoff game than in the regular season, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim. He threw four tonight and only threw three all year.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: 9 catches, 197 yards, touchdown
  2. EDGE Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
  3. CB Deane Leonard: Interception

Quick hits

  • This was arguably the worst game of Herbert’s career, crumbling with the world watching him. He finished 14-32 (43.8%), the worst completion percentage in a playoff game by a Charger since Philip Rivers in 2006, and tied for third worst in franchise history, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
  • Herbert had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game in his entire career.
  • The Chargers’ offense was lifeless the entire game. The Texans pressured Herbert 19 times and sacked him four times. There were too many dropped passes. The running game was nonexistent.
  • The Chargers’ defense forced three turnovers, but the offense only turned those takeaways into three points.
  • Los Angeles averaged just 2.8 yards per rush. The Texans dominated at the line of scrimmage, giving the Chargers no rushing lanes.
  • McConkey was the leading receiver with nine catches for 197 yards. The next on the list was Will Dissly, who had two receptions for 16 yards. Quentin Johnston had five targets but failed to record a catch.
  • Los Angeles finished 3-of-11 on third down. They held Houston to 5-of-14 on third down but allowed them to convert on both fourth-down attempts.
  • The momentum shift came late in the second quarter, deep in Texans territory when Stroud fumbled the snap but recovered and found a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson in the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain because of a busted coverage. Houston scored and went on to put up 23 unanswered points.

What’s next?

The Chargers finished the 2024 season with an 11-7 record and a playoff spot in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. They enter the offseason with plenty of positional needs at running back, wide receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, edge defender and interior defensive line.

What to know from Chargers’ final injury report of wild-card round vs. Texans

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without one of their starting wide receivers.

The Chargers had their final practice on Thursday ahead of the wild-card playoff game against the Texans this Saturday.

Here’s everything to know from Los Angeles’ final injury report:

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer has been ruled out. Palmer’s dealing with a heel injury that he suffered in the Week 17 game against the Patriots.

In his absence, D.J. Chark Jr. and Derius Davis are likely to get extended playing time alongside Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

Speaking of Johnston, he is questionable with a thigh injury and illness. He will likely play.

Running back J.K. Dobbins (ankle), guard Trey Pipkins III (oblique), linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin), wide receiver Simi Fehoko (elbow) and cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring).

The Chargers opened Fehoko’s and Apple’s 21-day practice window on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor (rib) is doubtful.

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Texans stack up before wild-card playoff game

The Texans have struggled at keeping their quarterback clean, but they’ve also generated a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks

The Chargers and Texans are set to square off this Saturday, with both teams looking to advance to the divisional round.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Houston stack up statistically on both sides of the ball ahead of the wild-card matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Texans
Points per game 23.6 ppg (11th) 21.9 ppg (19th)
Passing offense 213.5 ypg (19th) 207.4 ypg (21st)
Rushing offense 110.7 ypg (17th) 112.3 ypg (15th)
Total offense 324.2 ypg (20th) 319.7 ypg (22nd)
3rd down conversions 40.27% (11th) 37.66% (20th)
Red zone scoring 56.00% (18th) 49.12% (26th)
Sacks allowed 44 (19th) 54 (29th)
Turnovers 9 (2nd) 19 (12th)

Defense

Category Chargers Texans
Points allowed 17.7 ppg (1st) 21.9 ppg (14th)
Passing defense 206.9 ypg (7th) 201.0 ypg (6th)
Rushing defense 117.5 ypg (14th) 114.0 ypg (11th)
Total defense 324.4 ypg (11th) 315.0 ypg (6th)
3rd down conversions 35.71% (5th) 35.91% (7th)
Red zone defense 45.00% (1st) 63.64% (27th)
Sacks 46 (6th) 49 (4th)
Takeaways 21 (13th) 29 (5th)

 

3 bold predictions for Chargers’ playoff opener against Texans

In Jim Harbaugh’s first season as coach of the Chargers, he has led them to an 11-6 record and a trip to the playoffs.

Despite the game being at NRG Stadium in Houston, the Chargers are three-point favorites this weekend against the Texans. Jim Harbaugh has his squad playing some of the best football of the season.

It’s the first time Los Angeles takes the field in the playoffs since the epic collapse against the Jaguars back in 2022.

Here are some bold predictions in the Chargers-Texans AFC playoff tilt on Saturday:

Teams combine for 6+ sacks

There are lethal pass rushers on each side’s defense. Both teams were top-six in the NFL in sacks this season, so this isn’t even that bold of a prediction. Furthermore, both offensive lines are vulnerable. While there are elite tackles on both teams, the Texans allowed 54 sacks, tied for third-most in the NFL. The Chargers still had their flaws as well, particularly on the interior portion of their line, as they gave up 44 sacks. Expect guys like Khalil Mack and Will Anderson Jr. to wreck havoc on multiple instances this weekend.

Quentin Johnston goes for 70+ yards again

Texans Pro Bowl corner Derek Stingley Jr. will more than likely shadow Ladd McConkey on Saturday. As a result, that should open the field up for other Chargers playmakers. Johnston had a career day in Week 18 with 13 catches for 186 yards. He’s been nursing a thigh injury throughout the week, so his status for the game is something to keep an eye on. Assuming he plays, he should be in line for another big day.

NFL Playoff picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions 

Justin Herbert throws an INT

Across 503 pass attempts this year, Herbert miraculously threw just three interceptions. That’s an outstanding number, but something has to give this weekend. The Texans defense snagged 19 interceptions this season, the second-most in the NFL. Houston has two secondary members with five interceptions each and playmakers all over the defense. With limited weapons at wideout, Herbert gets overly aggressive and makes an uncharacteristic mistake.

Chargers injury report: Latest update on Rashawn Slater ahead of wild-card game vs. Texans

The Chargers had nine limited participants on Tuesday.

The Chargers had their first practice on Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s wild-card game against the Texans.

Los Angeles had nine limited participants on the injury report, including offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.

Slater missed the regular season finale against the Raiders after he felt discomfort in his knee in the pregame stretch.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide much information today, but it’s a good sign that he practiced in some capacity.

The other limited participants were the following players:

RB J.K. Dobbins (ankle)

RB Gus Edwards (ankle)

WR Simi Fehoko (elbow)

OL Zion Johnson (ankle)

WR Quentin Johnston (thigh)

LB Denzel Perryman (groin)

OL Trey Pipkins (oblique)

CB Ja’Sir Taylor (oblique)

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer did not practice on Tuesday. Palmer sustained a heel injury in Week 17 against the Patriots that kept him sidelined in Week 18.

Key things to know about Chargers’ wild-card opponent: Texans

Here are some key things to know about the Los Angeles Chargers’ opponent ahead of the wild-card round matchup.

The Chargers face off against the Texans in the wild-card round on Saturday afternoon.

To preview the matchup, here are some key things to know about Houston.

How Houston finished the regular season

The Texans finished as champions of the AFC South with a 10-7 record. Houston struggled down the stretch, losing three of its final five games.

Stroud’s struggles

Quarterback C.J. Stroud was outstanding in his first year as a pro, winning 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, Stroud took a step back in Year 2. Some of it involved losing wide receiver Stefon Diggs early in the season, missing Nico Collins for a few games, and then losing Tank Dell last month. But he wasn’t as accurate as he was in his rookie campaign and was often under pressure. He was sacked 52 times (second-most in the NFL) and threw 12 interceptions.

Gotta slow Joe

The Chargers have been stout against the run recently, ranking fourth in the past three weeks as they’ve allowed just 81.7 rushing yards per game. They must remain stout against running back Joe Mixon. Mixon finished the regular season with 1,016 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 4.1 yards per carry.

Beware of the pressure

The Chargers’ offensive line must be on its A-game against a Texans defensive line that has lived in opposing backfields this season. Houston has a franchise-best 49 sacks this year, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. Offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will be accounting for edge defenders Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr., who have 12 and 11 sacks, respectively.

Other notes

  • The Texans are 26th in red zone offense and 27th in red zone defense.
  • Houston has the sixth-best passing defense, allowing 201.0 yards per game.
  • The Texans have the fifth-most takeaways (29).
  • Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Calen Bullock each have five interceptions.
  • Wide receiver Nico Collins topped 1,000 receiving yards.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler comes alive in victory over Texans

Austin Ekeler made his fantasy football owners very happy.

The Chargers’ 34-24 win over the Texans wasn’t exactly pretty. However, there were electrifying moments of eloquence.

Houston kept Los Angeles on its toes in the fourth quarter, but the Bolts were able to close the game with a 14-yard scamper from running back Austin Ekeler into the endzone on a play-action bootleg with less than three minutes remaining. 

“I thought Coach Staley said something pretty cool at the end,” Ekeler said. “He was like, ‘If we would have had a blowout win, it wouldn’t have been as meaningful, and I thought that was true. It came down to getting close in the 4th quarter, only up four like ‘Hey we have to go out there’. 

It showed us a lot like ‘Hey, we have to put a drive together, we got a 4th down’. We got it, and we ended up with points to pretty much seal the game and get up two scores. I agree with him. I’m proud of the offense finishing the game like that.”

Entering Week 4, Ekeler had only 80 rushing yards on 32 carries. He also had not found the end zone. This changed Sunday, as the Ekeler finished with 13 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he had six receptions and a receiving touchdown. 

Ekeler’s performance is a shining light for Chargers fans and his fantasy owners since he had been largely absent on the ground in the first three games of the season. 

Quarterback Justin Herbert spoke on the importance of the team’s run game: “It’s huge,” Herbert said. “It all starts with those guys up front, and to have the backs like we do, you got to take advantage of that. We think really highly of our offensive linemen, especially our running  backs, so it was good to see today.”

The run game is a crucial element to a winning team in the NFL, and getting production on the ground going forward will help balance the passing game for Los Angeles. 

“At the end, I thought, I loved our commitment to it,” Staley said on today’s run game. “I thought that that allowed our line to really get into rhythm, which I think helped our passing game. We didn’t get any big splitters today, but I thought we had a lot of productive runs, kind of stayed out of the negative runs, and it felt like we ran the ball really well when we needed to.”

Ekeler is the Bolts’ best asset on the ground, and if he can consistently perform with that sort of firepower he showed today, the Chargers will be one of the most dangerous offenses in the league this season. 

As for the other running back’s performances, Joshua Kelley had four rushes for 15 yards, which came exclusively in the first half. Sony Michel had 11 yards on six carries, all of which came in the second half.

“I feel like we were able to put something together today even though it was still a battle,” Ekeler said. “Ended up getting what I felt like was a team win, so it’s good to get back on the right track. We’re trying to go on a run here, always starts with the first one so now we got one, and we have to do it again.”

Former Georgia Bulldog OL wins Chargers’ game ball

Former Georgia Bulldog Jamaree Salyer stepped up in his first career start.

Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Jamaree Salyer received a game ball from head coach Brandon Staley for his Week 4 performance against the Houston Texans. Los Angeles won, 34-24, on the road.

Jamaree Salyer made his first career NFL start and helped the Chargers allow only one sack against the Texans. Additionally, Los Angeles totaled 419 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Salyer, a rookie out of the University of Georgia, was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Salyer started at left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the 2020 and 2021 college football seasons. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive lineman allowed only two hurries and no sacks during his final season with Georgia.

Salyer primarily practiced at offensive guard for the Chargers, but that changed after star left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a torn biceps in Week 3 against the Jaguars. Slater is expected to miss the remainder of the 2022 NFL season.

The rookie stepped up for Los Angeles on the road, where it is tougher for offensive linemen to play well. The Chargers are 2-2.

The Houston Texans entered the contest already having 10 sacks this year. The Chargers had to protect banged up quarterback Justin Herbert, who is dealing with a ribs injury. Salyer is a big reason the Chargers were able to win.

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Watch: Gerald Everett’s touchdown gives Chargers early lead over Texans

The Chargers strike first.

The Chargers have struck first against Houston.

After a Nasir Adderley interception gave Los Angeles the ball at the Texans’ 25, Justin Herbert and company found their way into the end zone early in the first quarter.

After a neutral zone infraction shortened the sticks to a third and three, Herbert found tight end Gerald Everett up the seam against rookie safety Jalen Pitre. Everett went up and high-pointed the ball, leaving Pitre with no chance to make a play.

The Chargers now lead, 7-0.

Watch Everett haul it in here:

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Texans?

Find out who national pundits are favoring in the matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 5.5-point favorites over the Houston Texans in Week 4 of the 2022 regular season. The over/under is 44.5 points, per Tipico Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 44.5 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-20 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 47 points. So if I were putting money behind my prediction, I’d bet the over.

As for game picks, analysts are rolling with the Bolts in this one.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chargers
Gregg Rosenthal (NFL Media) Chargers
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.