Both teams feature evenly-matched offenses and defenses.
The NFL playoffs kicks off today with the Los Angeles Chargers traveling to take on the Houston Texans. As a Browns fan, I’ll remain a bit spiteful of the Texans for what they did in the opening round of last year playoffs, when they handed Cleveland a decisive loss.
One year later, the Browns were somehow 3-14, yielding the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Texans…didn’t have the best of seasons either. They still made the playoffs, but it was in the worst division in football, and they never really found a rhythm in what was a disappointing second season for C.J. Stroud. Finishing with a 10-7 record, Houston was 5-1 in their division and 5-6 outside of it.
The Chargers were only one game better at 11-6, but my impression of them was much higher. It is concerning for them, though, that they were 2-0 against the Broncos, but 0-5 against all other playoff teams this year.
Both teams have very similar offensive and defensive rankings this year. I was surprised the Texans ranked 6th defensively, but again, some of that could’ve been padded by games against the likes of Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis.
I think we’ll be in for a close, lower-scoring game, with the high stakes of the playoffs, but I like the Chargers to emerge victorious. The game starts at 4:30 pm ET and will be televised on CBS. Chargers 20, Texans 17
Use this as an open thread to discuss the game as the action unfolds.