Overview
- Justin Herbert said last season’s 32-12 Wild Card loss to Houston still sticks with him after throwing 14-of-32 for 242 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions with a 40.9 rating.
- Coach Jim Harbaugh has pointed to protection failures from that game, when Herbert was sacked four times and pressured on 39% of his dropbacks.
- Houston owns one of the NFL’s top pressure rates while the Chargers rank last in pass-block win rate, making protection a decisive matchup factor.
- The Chargers host the Texans on Dec. 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET, and a victory could set up a Week 18 winner-take-all AFC West showdown in Denver.
- Herbert enters in strong form with 3,491 yards and 25 touchdowns through 15 games, plus a 300-yard, zero-sack performance in Sunday’s 34-17 win at Dallas.