It's been a couple of years since the Los Angeles Chargers invaded NRG Stadium and, like the Texans, there has been A LOT of change over the past couple of seasons.
Sure, the stars still shine brightly in LA, like QB Justin Herbert, DEs Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa and S Derwin James, but it's a new day and a new vibe in Chargers Land. Why?
Jim.
Yes, former Michigan national championship winning coach Jim Harbaugh took over for Brandon Staley in 2024, changed the identity of the team and earned the number five seed in the playoffs. In his indomitable way, Harbaugh put his stamp on his team and its future in his first 17 games, but a playoff win, on the road, against a division champ would cement his legacy as one of the best leaders in the NFL. He and his coaching staff have made Herbert a bona fide star, racking up wins, instead of insane stats. The defense has gotten a major boost from Harbaugh's former Michigan DC Jesse Minter. The young Minter comes from good coaching stock and he has the defense primed for more this weekend.
This isn't quite a team playing with house money, but it's a dangerous one that'll be looking to rid the organization of the stench of the playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, the last time LA was in the postseason. After roaring out to a 27-0 lead, the Chargers melted down, literally and figuratively, in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wild Card Saturday. As such, spotting LA a 27-0 lead this weekend won't bode well for your Houston Texans, if that were to happen again.
So it's been a little while since the Texans have seen the Chargers and vice versa. As such, let's get to Know the Texans' Foe for Wild Card weekend - the 2024 Los Angeles Chargers.
2024 Schedule (11-6)
Week 1 - W Las Vegas Raiders 22-10
Week 2 - W @ Carolina Panthers 26-3
Week 3 - L @ Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10
Week 4 - L Kansas City Chiefs 17-10
Week 5 - BYE WEEK
Week 6 - W @ Denver Broncos 23-16
Week 7 - L @ Arizona Cardinals 17-15
Week 8 - W New Orleans Saints 26-8
Week 9 - W @ Cleveland Browns 27-10
Week 10 - W Tennessee Titans 27-17
Week 11 - W Cincinnati Bengals 34-27
Week 12 - L Baltimore Ravens 30-23
Week 13 - W @ Atlanta Falcons 17-13
Week 14 - L @ Kansas City Chiefs 19-17
Week 15 - L Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40-17
Week 16 - W Denver Broncos 34-27
Week 17 - W @ New England Patriots 40-7
Week 18 - W @ Las Vegas Raiders 34-20
Wild Card Weekend - @ Houston Texans
Chargers OFFENSE (in 2024 regular season)
Rushing Yards Per game - 110.7 ypg (17th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Per game - 213.5 ypg (19th)
Total offense per game - 324.2 ypg (20th)
Turnovers lost - 9 (6 Fumble lost, 3 INT)
Expected Chargers starting offense for Wild Card Weekend
QB - Justin Herbert
RB - GUS EDWARDS or J.K. DOBBINS
WR - Josh Palmer
WR - LADD McCONKEY
WR - Quentin Johnston
TE - WILL DISSLY
LT - Rashawn Slater
LG - Zion Johnson
C - Bradley Bozeman
RG - Jamaree Salyer
RT - JOE ALT
Key Offensive Non-Starters
FB - Scott Matlock
TE - Stone Smartt
WR - Derius Davis
TE - HAYDEN HURST
RB - HASSAN HASKINS
RB - KIMANI VIDAL
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2024
Keys to winning v. the Chargers Offense
- Don't Forget About Me- We've known for a while how good the quarterbacks in the AFC are. We've faced 'em all this year, minus one. Mahomes. Allen. Jackson. The one that we didn't face was as good as any QB in the NFL was Joe Burrow. So, it's somewhat understandable that Herbert gets overlooked when talk of the best AFC QBs commences. Now, with Harbaugh as head coach, there's been a paradigm shift in Herbert's usage, if you will. He threw 69 TD passes, combined, in his first two seasons and threw just 23 this year. But he threw 10 INT in his rookie year and 15 the next. This year? Just three. But, in a winner take all situation, Herbert scares me to death because lately, he's made THAT throw more often than not. He's NOT turning the ball over at all. I mean, he's thrown a total of two his last 15 games. He's playing cleaner. He's taking profit on checkdowns. Yet, he's still dangerous on every single throw. Even though there's been this shift in how LA runs its offense, Herbert has thrown 30+ passes in seven of his last eight games. He may not get the hype/run that other AFC QBs get, but he's as capable of putting up a big number on the Texans as any of those stars noted above. The Texans pass rush must corral him in the pocket…and even that may not be enough against this talented signal caller, but that's a start, to say the least.
- Ladede- At the Senior Bowl last year, I already knew how FAST Georgia WR Ladd McConkey was. I didn't need to see it up close and personal, but I was happy to be given the opportunity to see it. The first day of Senior Bowl week and he COOKED EVERYONE in a different colored practice jersey. I mean, when guys had a successful cover on him, they were almost guessing to get it right. Once he got to the NFL, I thought he'd have success, but not quite like THIS. He dominated defensive backs all season long and created a synergy with Herbert from the first week of the season until now. But, the Texans have shown in 2024, that they have answers. The Texans could use Derek Stingley Jr as McConkey's shadow or have him face his former Georgia teammate Kamari Lassiter. The Chargers will move McConkey around the formation to unearth coverage keys so it's important for the Texans' DBs to communicate well and make sure #15's impact on this game is minimized.
- The MAIN Battle- During his press conference this week, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that the Texans' DL v. Chargers' OL battle was the most important key to the game. I wasn't surprised at all when he said it because that's the way that I was thinking as well. Chargers OTs Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater against Texans star pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. The rookie Alt has fared well against some dynamic rushers this season, but slowing down a spinning/chopping/weaving Hunter is a chore that creates issues for even the most talented edge protectors. Anderson Jr. sat out the win over Tennessee which hopefully will have him WAY healthier than he was in last year's playoff games against Cleveland and Baltimore. But, the interior battle will be one that the Texans must win. The Chargers interior trio isn't as talented as, say, the Chiefs, but it's solid and consistent. The Texans are going to see a ton of trap and gap scheme runs like Baltimore threw at them. But, if the interior plays with good eyes and great technique, it should be able to slow down this LA run game. In fact, it MUST slow down this LA run game.
Chargers DEFENSE (in 2024 regular season)
Rushing Yards Allowed Per game - 117.5 ypg (14th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Allowed Per game - 206.9 ypg (7th)
Total offense Allowed per game - 324.4 ypg (11th)
Turnovers generated - 21 (15 INT, 6 Fumble recoveries - Chargers are +12 in TO margin)
Expected Chargers starting defense for Wild Card Weekend
Edge - Khalil Mack
DT - Otito Ogbonnia
NT - POONA FORD
DL - Morgan Fox
OLB - Joey Bosa
LB - Daiyan Henley
LB - DENZEL PERRYMAN
Nickel/LB/S/CB - Derwin James
CB - KRISTIAN FULTON or CAM HART
S - TONY JEFFERSON
S - Alohi Gilman
CB - TARHEEB STILL
Key Defensive Non-Starters
OLB - Tuli Tuipolotu
LB - JUNIOR COLSON
DE - JUSTIN EBOIGBE
NT - TEAIR TART
OLB - BUD DUPREE
Italics - Rookie
ALL CAPS - New to team in 2024
Keys to winning v. the Chargers Defense
- A different kind of Henley Regatta- Three years ago, I made a habit out of watching MWC football…for some reason. I liked the Nevada Wolf Pack because of WR Romeo Doubs, eventually ending up in Green Bay. So, I had them on one night against Utah State or some team of that ilk and I couldn't take my eyes off one player. This #11 was a stud off the edge. Who is that guy? Daiyan Henley was his name but when I went to watch Nevada the following year, transfer portal magic made him disappear. Then, one night I happened to be watching Washington State and their #1, playing inside linebacker, was dominating the game. He had a pick six at one point and tackled everything in sight. Said his name was Daiyan Henley and it hit me that was MY guy. I loved him as a draft prospect and hate that the Texans have to find a way to slow down one of the more underrated young players in the league. He has a nose for the ball, short area quicks and toughness for days. The Texans haven't always gotten a hat on inside backers this year in the run game, but they've done a better job of it lately. That's a good thing too, because facing Henley is a true chore.
- Derwin's Dominance- James might be able to do more on a field than any other safety in the NFL. As such, the Texans need to know where he is on every play and have an approximate understanding of what he can do at that spot on every play. Thus far in the 2024 season, he's covered every single pass catching position on the field. He's a fixture in the run defense. He's a physical presence all over the field. Find #3. Have a plan for him. His tackle numbers dropped from 2021 - 2023, but his sack numbers (5.5) and TFL numbers (ten) went way up. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time and the third time in the last four years. He's making impact plays when he's down at the line of scrimmage. The Texans know that he's more of an OLB when he's at the line of scrimmage and that he has to be accounted for in the right way or he can ruin a play, series or game. Honestly, I wish he would just sit this one out.
- The Rooks' Island- The Chargers could start two rookies on Saturday - former Notre Dame star Cam Hart and Maryland baller Tarheeb Still. Kristian Fulton is a veteran and one that the Texans have faced a ton of times from his days as a Tennessee Titan. However, the two youthful corners are long, physical and fast and more of a problem when on the field together. But, BUT neither one of them has played in an NFL playoff game and that matters, for sure. Will they bite on double moves? Will they play too cautiously and give up routes in front of them? Are they truly ready for playoff football? They've played exceptionally well this season as rookies, but playoff football takes all of your regular season action and throws it out the window. The Chargers played man coverage over 40% of the third downs they faced this year, which allowed James to blitz and create havoc. If they chose to stay to the trend it'll also put Hart and Still one-on-one against Nico Collins and company. I hope the trend holds.
