The Houston Texans are looking to secure a third straight playoff bid under DeMeco Ryans, and will have a chance to complete the task when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17 at SoFi Stadium.
With a victory, Houston will inch toward a third AFC South title in as many seasons.
The Texans’ Week 17 game will air on NFL Network at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday. According to BETMGM, the Texans open as a 2.5-point underdog on the road over the Bolts, with the over/under set at 41.
Sitting at 10-5 following a 23-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Texans are in great shape for a third straight playoff appearance going into Week 17. The offense stalled during the second half, but a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz proved to be the difference maker in Houston’s red zone offense.
As for the Chargers, they’ve remained one of the league’s hottest teams behind Pro Bowl passer Justin Herbert. In last week’s 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Herbert threw for 300 yards while completing over 70 percent of his pass attempts for three touchdowns.
Over the last four games, the Chargers have won close, but it’s been enough to secure victories and remain in the hunt for a division title. And yes, the Bolts are still playing for first-place bragging rights over the Denver Broncos, but they’ll need to win on Saturday to keep their No. 1 seed hopes alive entering Sunday’s season finale.
The Texans, who currently remain a half-game back in the AFC South standings, could at least tie the Jacksonville Jaguars with a win on Sunday. If anything, Houston should still be one step closer in clinching a playoff spot, even if it means being left out of the division race for another week.
Who are the experts riding with between the bottom-dwellers of the AFC and the favorites in the division? Let’s take a look and see which team is expected to win on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: TexansJarrett Bell: ChargersNick Brinkerhoff: ChargersChris Bumbaca: TexansNate Davis: TexansTyler Dragon: ChargersAli Bhanpuri: ChargersBrooke Cersosimo: TexansDan Parr: ChargesGennaro Filice: TexansTom Blair: TexansStephania Bell: ChargersMatt Bowen: TexansMike Clay: ChargersJeremy Fowler: TexansDan Graziano: ChargersKalyn Kahler: ChargersPamela Maldonado: ChargersEric Moody: TexansJason Reid: TexansLindsey Thiry: ChargersSam Wickersham: TexansPete Prisco: ChargersCody Benjamin: ChargersJared Dubin: ChargersRyan Wilson: ChargersJohn Breech: ChargersTyler Sullivan: TexansDave Richard: ChargersJamey Eisenberg: ChargersAlbert Breer: ChargersClare Brennan: ChargersMitch Goldich: TexansGilberto Manzano: TexansConor Orr: ChargersJohn Pluym: ChargersMatt Verderame: TexansGary Davenport: TexansBrad Gagnon: ChargersIan Hanford: ChargersKris Knox: ChargersMaurice Moton: TexansWes O’Donnell: ChargersBrent Sobleski: TexansTexans Wire
Cole Thompson: Chargers