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.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
C.J. Stroud feeling the pressure
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud ran out of the pocket to avoid the pressure from Chargers standout Joey Bosa on 3rd & 7 but nearly threw an interception in the process. Texans punted the ball and were also called for a 15-yard penalty after Kris Boyd was called for fair catch interference.
The Chargers lead the Texans 6-0 with 4:58 left in the opening period.
Chargers increase first-quarter lead
The Chargers convert the turnover into points with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Cameron Dicker.
The Chargers take another 2:53 off the clock with a six-play drive for 12 yards.
Chargers recover Texans’ fumble
Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a pass to receiver John Metchie on Houston’s first offensive play before Chargers safety Alohi Gilman forced Metchie to fumble the ball. Chargers defensive back Derwin James recovered the ball. Chargers have taken over with the ball.
Chargers settle for an early field goal
The Chargers managed to reach the red zone but settled for a successful 35-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker to take the 3-0 lead with 9:37 left in the first quarter.
The Chargers took 5:23 off the clock on the opening drive with 10 plays for 57 yards.
Chargers start with the ball
The Houston Texans won the coin toss and decided to defer for the second half. Quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers will begin on offense.
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
- TV channel: CBS
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
Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?
The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.
NFL draft 2025 order entering wild-card weekend
Here’s how the first round of the 2025 NFL draft stacks up entering wild-card weekend action, according to Tankathon.com:
- Tennessee Titans: 3-14 record; .522 strength of schedule (SOS)
- Cleveland Browns: 3-14; .536 SOS
- New York Giants: 3-14; .554 SOS
- New England Patriots: 4-13; .471 SOS
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13; .478 SOS
- Las Vegas Raiders: 4-13; .540 SOS
- New York Jets: 5-12; .495 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 5-12; .498 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 5-12; .505 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 5-12; .554 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 6-11; .564 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-10; .522 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 8-9; .419 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-9; .457 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons: 8-9; .519 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 8-9; .536 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8; .478 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 10-7; .498 SOS
- Houston Texans: 10-7; .481 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .502 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 10-7; .505 SOS
- Green Bay Packers: 11-6; .533 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOS
- Washington Commanders: 12-5; .436 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 12-5; .529 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 14-3; .474 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 13-4; .467 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3; .453 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 15-2; .488 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 15-2; .519 SOS
What teams made the NFL playoffs?
AFC
NFC
2024-25 NFL playoffs schedule
The wild-card round is set. All times Eastern.
Wild Card (all times Eastern)
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 11
- Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, Jan. 12
- Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox
- Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m. ET, NBC
Monday, Jan. 13
- Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Divisional round
All times TBD
Saturday, Jan. 18
- TBD at Kansas City Chiefs divisional game: TBD
- TBD at Detroit Lions divisional game: TBD
Sunday, Jan. 19
- AFC divisional game: TBD
- NFC divisional game: TBD
Conference championships
Sunday, Jan. 26:
- NFC championship game: 3 p.m.
- AFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl 59
- Date: Feb. 9, 2025
- Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- TV: FOX
MORE:Everything to know about Super Bowl 59
NFL standings
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, AFC West winners, No. 1 seed)
- Buffalo Bills (13-4, AFC East winners, No. 2 seed)
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North winners, No. 3 seed)
- Houston Texans (10-7, AFC South winners, No. 4 seed)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 1, No. 5 seed)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, wild card No. 2, No. 6 seed)
- Denver Broncos (10-7, wild card No. 3, No. 7 seed)
NFC
- Detroit Lions (15-2, NFC North winners, No. 1 seed)
- Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, NFC East winners, No. 2 seed)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South winners, No. 3 seed)
- Los Angeles Rams (10-7, NFC West winners, No. 4 seed)
- Minnesota Vikings (14-3, wild card No. 1)
- Washington Commanders (12-5, wild card No. 2, No. 6 seed)
- Green Bay Packers (11-6, wild card No. 3, No. 7 seed)
Houston Texans inactives vs. LA Chargers
LA Chargers inactives vs. Houston Texans
Where is Texans vs. Chargers wild-card game?
The Los Angeles Chargers take on the Houston Texans in an NFL playoff wild-card game from NRG Stadium in Houston. The venue has a capacity of 72,220 seats but can be expanded to accommodate 80,000.
Texans vs. Chargers weather updates
The Houston area will have a respite from the rain and should have sunshine on Saturday. According to Accuweather, there should be a high of 58 degrees, with temperatures dropping to 53 degrees in the afternoon.
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Who is the highest-paid NFL player?
The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the 2024 season, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Who are the highest-paid NFL players at each position?
We have a complete list at every position:
Oldest players in NFL in 2024
Just four players in 2024 NFL player pool surpass 40 years old: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis, Rams kicker Matt Prater and Titans kicker Nick Folk.
Only Rodgers will turn 41 during the season, with a birthday that came in the first week in December.
Here’s the full list of the top 11 oldest players in football:
- QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets: 40 years old (Dec. 2, 1983)
- TE Marcedes Lewis, Bears: 40 years old (May 19, 1984)
- K Matt Prater, Rams: 40 years old (Aug. 10, 1984)
- K Nick Folk, Titans: 40 years old (Nov. 5, 1984)
- QB Joe Flacco, Colts: 39 years old (Jan. 16, 1985)
- C/LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers: 38 years old (Jan. 20, 1986)
- C/LS Jon Weeks, Texans: 38 years old (Feb. 17, 1986)
- P Thomas Morstead, Jets: 38 years old (March 8, 1986)
- C/LS Morgan Cox, Titans: 38 years old (April 26, 1986)
- QB Josh Johnson, Ravens: 38 years old (May 15, 1986)
- DL Calais Campbell, Dolphin: 38 years old (September 1, 1986)
Full list of highest-paid NFL players
Across all metrics, the top-10 highest-paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here’s how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season.
AAV
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million
- Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million
- Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million
- Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million
- Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million
- Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million
Guaranteed money
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million
- Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
- Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million
- Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million
- Jared Goff: $170.61 million
- Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million
- Jordan Love: $160.3 million
Total contract value
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million
- Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million
- Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million
- Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million
- Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.
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