Overview
- The Texans have a playoff berth within reach with a win or tie, and a Houston victory would knock the Chargers out of the AFC’s No. 5 seed.
- Los Angeles, now 11-4 after four straight wins, needs a win to keep its path to the AFC West title alive entering Week 18.
- Houston brings the NFL’s No. 1 scoring and total defense plus edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. against an L.A. front missing LT Jamaree Salyer, challenging Justin Herbert who has excelled under pressure.
- The Chargers’ defense leans heavily on zone coverage, a look that has produced all six of C.J. Stroud’s interceptions this season.
- Key personnel notes: RT Trey Pipkins III is expected back for L.A., LB Denzel Perryman is suspended with Troy Dye stepping in, and Texans RT Trent Brown has been ruled out.