The Chargers capped their regular season with a Week 18 win, which means they're headed to Houston for a matchup with the Texans on Wild Card Weekend.
With Pittsburgh's loss and the Chargers' win over the Raiders, Los Angeles sealed the No. 5 seed in the AFC. The Steelers beat the Chargers earlier this season, so Los Angeles had to win in Las Vegas today to finish 11-6 and one game ahead of Pittsburgh.
So, here are opening Chargers vs. Texans odds for the NFL Wild Card Round of the playoffs next weekend.
Chargers vs. Texans Odds
| Chargers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 44.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
| Texans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 44.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
- Chargers vs. Texans spread: Chargers -3 (-105), Texans +3 (-115)
- Chargers vs. Texans total: Over/Under 44.5 points scored
- Chargers vs. Texans moneylines: Chargers -155, Texans +130
These odds are as of Sunday at 9:18 p.m. ET.
Chargers vs. Texans Projection
Sean Koerner, Action Network's director of predictive analytics, is delivering us his early projections for every playoff game as each matchup is set.
Koerner projects this spread as a pick'em with the over/under set at 44 points scored.
Los Angeles Chargers
By Brandon Anderson
Few expected the Chargers to make the postseason in Jim Harbaugh’s first season, but L.A. has taken care of business, mostly by beating the bad teams. The Chargers did not have a win during the regular season over a team locked into the playoffs entering Week 18 but went 10-1 against the rest of the field.
Rookie Joe Alt has bookended an improved offensive line across Rashawn Slater, and Justin Herbert has been unleashed midseason with a passing attack that’s finding its footing with rookie WR Ladd McConkey leading the way. It’s not a sexy offense, particularly running the ball, but it’s efficient and will be better if J.K. Dobbins is good to go.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit has been the team’s calling card. The Chargers love to get an early lead, lock it down defensively, and bleed the clock out. That’s Jim's brand of football, and it’s done the job against the lower half of the league, but will it work against top competition in the playoffs?
Houston Texans
By Brandon Anderson
Weirdly enough, the Texans managed to coast to a division title without much opposition while also disappointing all season long. Houston started 5-1 against a soft schedule and beat the Bills early, but it’s been pretty ugly and forgettable since.
The offense has been perhaps the most disappointing unit in football. Everyone expected Bobby Slowik’s unit to make a leap under sophomore QB C.J. Stroud, but instead it ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in DVOA and even worse in metrics like EPA and Success Rate.
Houston has struggled to run the ball and Stroud has been inconsistent — at best — throwing to a receiving corps decimated by injuries and overreliant on Nico Collins.
Houston’s defense has been its calling card this season. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are a menacing pass rushing duo off the edge, and young CB Derek Stingley Jr. leads an improved secondary.
If DeMeco Ryans’ team makes a postseason push, it will be on the back of this stout defense.
