EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers are practically mirror images this season, teams with elite defenses and erratic offenses still trying to stay alive in their respective AFC divisional races.
The Texans (10-5) can clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie on Saturday, while the Chargers (11-4) need a victory to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with the Denver Broncos in Week 18.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where you want to be in December,鈥� Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. 鈥淵ou want to be playing meaningful games, and that鈥檚 what this team has earned. Every week from here on out, how can you continue to improve your position? Right now, this is a playoff game versus the Chargers. We know they have a lot to play for; we have a lot to play for.
“How else would you want it? It鈥檚 an exciting time.鈥�
Neither Houston nor Los Angeles has reached this point of the season by being the most aesthetically pleasing on offense, and everything points towards a cagey low-scoring affair given the state of both teams鈥� offensive lines against excellent pass rushes.
The Texans won鈥檛 have right tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee), and rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery is questionable because of thumb surgery. The Chargers have spent all season grappling with turnover at their offensive tackle spots, and now will be without left tackle Jamaree Salyer because of a hamstring injury sustained on the opening possession of a last week.
The constant churn up front has limited what . Houston was in a similar position throughout the year because of skill position injuries while trying to adjust to a new system.
Even with those limitations, for the first time in franchise history, the Chargers have back-to-back 11 win seasons for the third time, and the winner of their 10th regular-season matchup will have at least a chance of winning a division title.
For Los Angeles, its path to a home playoff game is straightforward: beat Houston, and then complete a season sweep of the AFC West by knocking off Denver next weekend. That path would also give quarterback Justin Herbert and his teammates a chance to end up as the conference鈥檚 top seed and secure a first-round bye.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really a week by week thing, and we understand that we鈥檝e got a very, very good opponent coming to town this week, and we got to handle our business this week,鈥� Herbert said.
Lesson learned
Herbert understands the value of being able to start the postseason in front of your own fans, having lost twice on the road in the wild-card round, including a .
After throwing a career-high four interceptions in that game, Herbert hopes he has made the most of that painful experience.
鈥淎ll the turnovers, you watch them individually and see what went wrong on this play, what you could have done differently,鈥� Herbert said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just part of the game. Unfortunately, it really didn鈥檛 go our way, and there鈥檚 nothing I can do to change that. And so, it鈥檚 more what can you learn from it, how can you move forward, and give everything you can to put this team in a position to win.鈥�
Stingley鈥檚 score
Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has been so good for so long that it was hard for many 鈥� even his coach 鈥� to believe he hadn鈥檛 scored a touchdown in the NFL until he . And it wasn鈥檛 just his first score in the NFL, but his first since high school.
鈥淚 was shocked because a guy with such great hands as Stingley has and how he intercepts the football, he鈥檚 such a talented guy, I was shocked that he hadn鈥檛 had one since high school,鈥� Ryans said. 鈥淏ut we needed it on Sunday and I鈥檓 happy he got it then.鈥�
Stingley was selected AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his performance against the Raiders, where he also forced a fumble and had a pass defensed in the win. The All-Pro is tied for the team lead with four interceptions and is the only player in the NFL to have at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons.
Never satisfied
Houston鈥檚 defense leads the NFL in yards (272.3) and points (16.6) allowed, but Ryans makes sure the unit is never satisfied. Even though they’re the NFL鈥檚 top-rated defense, he鈥檚 looking for the group to shore things up this week after they allowed two long touchdowns against the Raiders.
鈥淲e always have a huge opportunity to improve, and my guys get on me. I never let them slip on what we have to improve upon,鈥� Ryans said.
Get your kicks
With points likely to be at a premium, two of the best kickers in the NFL should have their say on the outcome.
Houston鈥檚 Ka鈥檌mi Fairbairn is 36 of 40 (90%) on field goals this season. Cameron Dicker has the best career percentage on field goals in league history at 94.1%, including making 36 of 38 (94.7%) attempts for Los Angeles this season.
And if it comes down to a long distance kick, Dicker is 5 of 6 from 50 yards and out with a long of 59 yards, while Fairbairn is 8 of 12 with a long of 57 yards.
___
AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
