The Chargers are back inside SoFi Stadium to face the Texans (2-5) this Sunday.
It’s been hell for Justin Herbert and the offense all year, but it’s been just as rough when they’ve played the Texans each of the past two seasons. Houston has picked off Herbert five times and chances are they’ll add to that total this weekend given how things have gone for two months of the season now.
Can they FINALLY shock the fan base and dig out their first win? Will the woes continue against Houston? I guess we
have to tune in to find out.
Here are the three things I’ll be watching the closest when these two teams take the field on Sunday.
1.) How will the Chargers offense look with reinforcements en route?
The Chargers offense will hopefully look a bit different this week with a pair starters returning to the fold.
Tight end David Njoku had his activation window opened this week and has logged a pair of limited practices this week. He was one of Justin Herbert’s top targets through the team’s first two games and I’ll be interested to see if that continues once he’s back.
Kayode Awosika, the team’s starting left guard to begin the season, also looks to be making his way back to the field after a pair of limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. Awosika was one of the offensive line’s best performance before going down with a fibula injury and I wouldn’t be shocked if his presence next to Joe Alt on the left side moves the needle — in some way at least — on offense this week.
Njoky being a pass-catching tight end first and forement could help the passing game while Awosika’s return could potentially open up things on the ground. Now of course one player in each facet likely isn’t enough to be a true fix, but that unit needs anything at all and two former starters returning to the field is a good start.
2.)Will the nightmare continue for Justin Herbert against the Texans?
The last two times Justin Herbert and the Chargers have faced the Texans have been a nightmare.
In last year’s matchup on December 25th, the Chargers lost 20-16 in a game Herbert threw one touchdown to one interception. The prior game against Houston was the wild card matchup in January of ‘25 where Herbert threw four interceptions in one of his worst outings as a pro.
As much as I wish I could say this is a real opportunity to exorcise the demons from those two games, I simply cannot. Herbert and the Chargers have never looked like a worse, less-cohesive unit and even with the Houston defense not its usual elite self, they still have numerous players who can make a splash play at a moment’s notice.
Even the return of a healthy Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre’ Harris did next to nothing for the offense’s production in Week Eight. Coming out of the bye, the Chargers scored just nine points, all of which came in the first half. They were then completely blanked in the second as Herbert threw his second interception on top of nearly losing a fumble that was luckily knocked out of bounds.
At this rate, nothing is going to come to save the Chargers from themselves. If they want the nightmare to end, they’ve gotta wake up and do it themselves.
3.) Chargers pass defense will have another tough task vs. WR Nico Collins and a rejuvenated C.J. Stroud
Stroud did not have to play at an All-Pro or Pro Bowl level the past two seasons while the Texans defense was arguably the best in the league from 2024-2025. This year, with the defense taking some steps back, he’s had to carry the load a bit more and that’s somewhat worked out after a rough start. The Texans are the NFL’s 7th-ranked passing offense and that is mainly due to an abysmal run game averaging only 84.7 yards per game (29th).
After throwing for at least 260 yards in Weeks Four through Six (including two games of over 300), Stroud only threw for 153 in their loss to the Giants just before their bye. With two weeks of preparation, you have to think they’ll be ready to roll.
On the flip side, the Chargers pass defense currently ranks 7th in the league, as well (198.4). That rank has mostly been maintained without All-Pro safety Derwin James or veteran cornerback Donte Jackson in the lineup. If that’s not the far-and-away strength of the Bolts defense, then I don’t know what is. Just a bunch of names putting together a top-10 unit under a first-year defensive coordinator.
Will that be enough this week?
