2026
Week 9 · Sunday 4:05 PM ET · SoFi Stadium
vs
Chargers offensevsTexans defense
Season numbers through Week 8: 7 games for Chargers, 7 for Texans. Ranks are out of 32; #1 is the best offense or the stingiest defense.
Wideouts feast
Texans give up 196 yards a game to wide receivers (32nd), against a league average of 147. Chargers' wide receivers produce 122 (27th).
Deep right is open
Texans are worst against deep right throws, allowing +1.32 EPA per attempt. Chargers send 9% of their throws there. That is a small part of their offense so far.
Pressure problem
Chargers take a sack on 10% of dropbacks (28th). Texans get home on 8% (6th). League average is 7%.
Explosive play rate
Call this one even. Chargers create explosive plays on 8% of snaps (25th). Texans give them up at 10% (22nd).
Players to watch
Texans
C.J. StroudQB · 160/247 · 1867 yds · 11 TD · 1 INTEPA per dropback +0.12 · 15th
Woody MarksRB · 77 car · 271 yds · 2 TD · 14 recEPA per touch -0.14
Dalton SchultzTE · 33 rec · 322 yds · 0 TD · 43 tgtEPA per target +0.23 · 22nd
Xavier HutchinsonWR · 21 rec · 258 yds · 1 TD · 40 tgtEPA per target -0.04Will Anderson Jr.Left Defensive End · 31 tackles · 7.5 sacks · 1 PD7.5 sacks · T-1st in the NFLDanielle HunterRight Defensive End · 17 tackles · 4 sacks · 4 PD4 sacks · T-22nd in the NFL
Chargers
Justin HerbertQB · 131/212 · 1398 yds · 5 TD · 10 INTEPA per dropback -0.26
Omarion HamptonRB · 89 car · 309 yds · 3 TD · 11 recEPA per touch -0.23
Tre HarrisWR · 18 rec · 256 yds · 0 TD · 28 tgtEPA per target +0.30
Quentin JohnstonWR · 12 rec · 202 yds · 0 TD · 26 tgtEPA per target +0.24Tuli TuipulotuWeakside Linebacker · 29 tackles · 3 sacks · 1 INT · 3 PD3 sacksCam HartLeft Cornerback · 28 tackles · 2 INT · 6 PD2 INT · T-11th in the NFLThe Chargers lead the series 6–5 since 1999 (they first met in 2002). The Texans have won the last 2. Dec 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium: the Texans won 20–16. Justin Herbert started at quarterback for the Chargers and C.J. Stroud for the Texans; Jim Harbaugh and DeMeco Ryans coached.
The last 5
| 2025 · Wk 17 | HOU 20 at LAC 16 |
| 2024 · Wk 19 · playoffs | LAC 12 at HOU 32 |
| 2022 · Wk 4 | LAC 34 at HOU 24 |
| 2021 · Wk 16 | LAC 29 at HOU 41 |
| 2019 · Wk 3 | HOU 27 at LAC 20 |
2026 records
| Texans | Chargers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2–5 | 0–7 |
| Division | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| Conference | 2–3 | 0–4 |
| Other conference | 0–2 | 0–3 |
| Home | 0–4 | 0–3 |
| Away | 2–1 | 0–4 |
| Last 5 | LLWWL | LLLLL |
| Streak | Lost 1 | Lost 7 |
| Points a game | 23.6 – 24.3 | 14.1 – 25.0 |
Every meeting since 1999, regular season and playoffs, from nflverse's game list, which starts in 1999; the all-time series goes back further. Franchises that moved count as one team (the Raiders, Chargers and Rams). Home and away are from the Texans' side. Records are this regular season.
Chargers offense · 3WR 1TE
- QBJustin Herbert#10 · 131/212 · 1398 yds · 5 TD · 10 INT
- RBOmarion Hampton#8 · 89 car · 309 yds · 3 TD · 11 rec
- WRLadd McConkey#15 · 17 rec · 286 yds · 1 TD · 24 tgt
- WRQuentin Johnston#1 · 12 rec · 202 yds · 0 TD · 26 tgt
- WRTre' Harris#9 · 18 rec · 256 yds · 0 TD · 28 tgt
- TECharlie Kolar#88 · 10 rec · 98 yds · 0 TD · 17 tgt
- LTJoe Alt#76
- LGKayode Awosika#74
- CJake Slaughter#66
- RGCole Strange#69
- RTTravis Burke#77
Texans defense · Base 4-3 D
- RDEDanielle Hunter#55 · 17 tackles · 4 sacks · 4 PD
- RDTSheldon Rankins#98 · 20 tackles · 2 sacks · 1 PD
- LDTTommy Togiai#72 · 36 tackles · 1 PD
- LDEWill Anderson Jr.#51 · 31 tackles · 7.5 sacks · 1 PD
- WLBHenry To'oTo'o#39 · 17 tackles · 0.5 sacks · 1 PD
- MLBAzeez Al-Shaair#0 · 58 tackles · 2 PD
- SLBJake Hansen#35 · 36 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 2 PD
- RCBKamari Lassiter#3 · 44 tackles · 1 sack · 5 PD
- LCBDerek Stingley Jr.#24 · 17 tackles · 4 PD
- NBJalen Pitre#5 · 24 tackles · 4 PD
- SSReed Blankenship#6 · 44 tackles · 1 INT · 3 PD
- FSCalen Bullock#2 · 30 tackles · 1 INT · 4 PD
Starters from each team's current depth chart (nflverse, from ESPN), drawn in the offense's base three-receiver set against the defense's base front. The nickel back, the extra defensive back most teams use against three receivers, is drawn lighter. Left and right are as the offense sees the field. The toggle at the top flips which offense is drawn.
| Stat | LAC off | Favors LAC · Favors HOU | HOU def allows | NFL avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| EPA per play | -0.26#32 | +0.03#22 | +0.00 | |
| Success rate | 35%#32 | 41%#8 | 44% | |
| Yards per play | 4.7#30 | 5.4#18 | 5.4 | |
| Explosive play rate | 8%#25 | 10%#22 | 9% | |
| Passing | ||||
| Pass EPA per dropback | -0.30#32 | +0.07#20 | +0.03 | |
| Sack rate | 10%#28 | 8%#6 | 7% | |
| Running | ||||
| Run EPA per carry | -0.23#31 | -0.03#25 | -0.08 | |
| Yards per carry | 3.7#23 | 3.8#12 | 4.1 | |
| Money downs | ||||
| 3rd down conversion | 37%#27 | 42%#19 | 41% | |
| Red zone TD rate | 50%#29 | 68%#24 | 61% | |
| Targets by position | ||||
| WR yards per game | 122#27 | 196#32 | 147 | |
| TE yards per game | 47#22 | 46#10 | 55 | |
| TE targets per game | 7.4#17 | 6.3#5 | 7.6 | |
| RB receiving yards per game | 31#15 | 21#6 | 32 | |
Chargers: EPA per throw
Texans: EPA allowed per throw
Green gains more than expected, red loses value. Cells with fewer than 5 throws are grayed out.