The No. 5 seed Los Angeles Chargers travel to Texas to play the No. seed Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card game as the NFL playoffs begin.
It’s the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs. The Chargers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 when the team lost in the wild-card round to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round.
Quarterback Justin Herbert leads the Chargers, having completed 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. Rookie Ladd McConkey has served as Herbert’s leading target with 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Texans, meanwhile, are back in the playoffs for the second consecutive season behind C.J. Stroud. The second-year quarterback completed 336 of 532 pass attempts for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games played. Running back Joe Mixon has rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries.
USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of today’s game. Follow along for news, updates, scores and highlights of the wild-card tilt.
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What time is the Houston Texans vs. L.A. Chargers wild-card game?
- Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT)
- Location: NRG Stadium (Houston)
The Houston Texans will take on the Los Angeles Chargers as the NFL playoffs open with an AFC wild-card game at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Houston Texans vs. L.A. Chargers TV channel
CBS will broadcast the NFL wild-card game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and Evan Washburn (sideline reporter) calling the action.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers live stream
- Live stream: Paramount+ or Fubo
The NFL wild-card playoff game between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers can be streamed on Paramount+ or you can turn to Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription. Fubo carries CBS, as well as NBC, FOX, ABC, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through much of the playoffs.
Watch Texans vs. Chargers and more playoff action on Fubo Texans vs. Chargers predictions, picks
USA Today: Unanimous to go Chargers against the spread
- Jarrett Bell: Chargers
- Chris Bumbaca: Chargers
- Nate Davis: Chargers
- Tyler Dragon: Chargers
- Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Chargers
- Lorenzo Reyes: Chargers
The Arizona Republic: Chargers 27, Texans 17
Jeremy Cluff writes, “The Chargers have won three in a row and gave up an NFL-best 301 points this season. They will be able to outscore the Texans on the road, who interestingly scored 372 points this season, while also giving up 372 points.”
CBS Sports: Chargers 27, Texans 20
Pete Prisco writes: “The Chargers come into this game with an offense led by Justin Herbert, who has yet to win a playoff game. This is a big game for him. The Texans haven’t played as well as expected, especially C.J. Stroud. This makes this a big game for him, too. But the Chargers have the top-ranked scoring defense in the league, which will make this a challenge. I think their pass rush will be an issue against Stroud’s offensive line. Herbert will play well and find a way to win his first playoff game.”
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Texans vs. Chargers: Wild-card playoff odds
The Los Angeles Chargers are favorites to defeat the Houston Texans, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Saturday, Jan. 11
- Spread: Chargers (-2.5)
- Moneyline: Chargers (-155); Texans (+130)
- Over/under: 41.5
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