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Christmas week in the 2025 NFL season bears a whole host of gifts spanning four different days. The yuletide festivities continue on Saturday with two games, including an AFC showdown between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers. Houston (9-5) is looking to secure a playoff spot, while Los Angeles (11-4) is still in contention for the AFC West crown.
Let’s dive into my Texans vs. Chargers predictions.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers odds
Money line: Texans +108 / Chargers -126
Spread: Texans +1.5 (-105) / Chargers -1.5 (-115)
Total: Over 39.5 (-110) / Under 39.5 (-110)
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers best bet #1: Texans ML (+108)
The Texans have won seven games in a row despite going up against stiff competition. Among the seven opponents they have defeated of late are Jacksonville, Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Kansas City — when the Chiefs were still in playoff contention and before Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL. Houston’s defense is the best in the entire league. It is No. 1 overall (272.3 yards allowed per game), No. 1 in scoring (16.6 points per game allowed), No. 4 against the pass, No. 2 in yards per pass attempt allowed, No. 4 against the run, No. 3 in turnovers forced, and tied for No. 6 in sacks.Â
Los Angeles is on a four-game winning streak of their own, but it struggled against Philly (22-19 in overtime) and K.C. (16-13 after Mahomes went down). Other than when it victimized woeful defenses of the Cowboys and Raiders, L.A.’s offense has struggled dating back to a 35-6 loss to the Jaguars in Week 11. There’s no reason to be too concerned by Houston’s way-too-close 23-21 victory over Las Vegas last weekend. That was a classic lookahead spot against a horrible team with a much bigger game against the Chargers only six days later. This is a rematch of a 2024 wild-card playoff game from last season, when the Texans destroyed the Bolts 32-12.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers best player prop bet: Woody Marks Over 48.5 rushing yards (-110)
Houston’s winning formula throughout this hot streak is not difficult to decipher. The recipe is to build leads with its dominant defense and then work the clock with a ball-control offense.
Marks is a big part of that plan. He has rushed for at least 64 yards in three of the last four games and for at least 62 yards in five of the last eight. The USC product got 26 carries during a Week 15 victory over the Chiefs and has rushed 16 times or more in four of the past five outings. Marks now faces a Los Angeles defense that is allowing a sizable 4.4 yards per carry. By comparison, the Chargers are No. 6 in the league in pass defense and also No. 6 in yards per pass attempt allowed.