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 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 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

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.