Chargers at Houston Texans: Who has the edge?

Chargers (8-6) astatine Texans (3-11)

When: 10 a.m. Sunday

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston

TV/Radio: CBS (Ch. 2); 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish); Sirius 132

Line: Chargers by 10 ½ points

Notable wounded designations: Chargers: S Derwin James (questionable; hamstring), TE Donald Parham Jr. (injured reserve; concussion)

Texans: RB David Johnson (questionable; quadricep)

What’s astatine stake? An accidental for the Chargers to summation crushed successful the postseason contention versus a struggling opponent. The Chargers volition request to instrumentality attraction of concern against the short-handed Texans, the aforesaid they did against the New York Giants successful Week 14. A nonaccomplishment would drastically hinder the Chargers’ playoff chances with a fistful of teams vying for the 3 wild-card spots successful the AFC.

Who’s better? The Chargers will beryllium without borderline rusher Joey Bosa, moving backmost Austin Ekeler, wide receiver Mike Williams and halfway Corey Linsley. They are among six starters and 15 full Chargers connected the COVID-19 reserve list, but backmost Justin Herbert is inactive disposable to play, and that’s much than capable to bushed the Texans, who are successful contention for the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2022 NFL draft. The Texans presently clasp the 3rd prime successful the NFL draught bid arsenic 2 of their 3 wins came against the 2-12 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans volition beryllium without their champion violative subordinate with wide receiver Brandin Cooks connected the COVID-19 reserve list, on with galore different Texans players.

Matchup to watch: Chargers rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. versus the Texans’ wide receivers. This volition beryllium Samuel’s archetypal crippled backmost since a concussion sidelined him for 4 games. Samuel was having a standout rookie twelvemonth earlier sustaining his archetypal concussion of the play successful Week 8 against the New England Patriots and was forced to miss the pursuing game. Samuel had a 2nd concussion successful Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed the pursuing 4 games. Samuel won’t look Cooks, but he’ll get a accidental to amusement however overmuch he’s progressed successful the past month.

Chargers triumph if: … They enactment unit connected Texans rookie backmost Davis Mills, who has struggled successful 8 starts this season. With Bosa sidelined, Kenneth Murray volition commencement astatine borderline rusher adjacent to Uchenna Nwosu. They could person a productive time against a struggling Texans violative enactment that has allowed 38 sacks this season. Mills, the Texans’ third-round prime this year, has completed 65.6% of his passes with 1,946 yards, 10 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

Fantasy sleeper: Chargers moving backmost Justin Jackson is successful enactment to commencement with Ekeler ruled out. Jackson is coming disconnected his champion show of the play erstwhile helium recorded 86 yards connected 13 carries (6.6 yards per carry) versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Jackson continues to beryllium inconsistent due to the fact that of injuries, but helium tends to radiance erstwhile healthy. The Texans are allowing a league-worst 145 rushing yards per game.

Prediction: Herbert volition propulsion 3 touchdowns and prevention the time with galore Chargers ruled retired for the crippled successful Houston. The Chargers volition bushed the Texans 30-13 and volition beryllium a measurement person to clinching a playoff berth.