The Los Angeles Chargers’ offense is experiencing a strong surge at a critical juncture of the season.
In the past ten quarters, the team has found success, scoring on 18 out of 25 possessions, which includes ten touchdowns and eight field goals. This offensive momentum culminated in a 34-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, securing the fifth seed in the AFC for the Chargers (11-6). This win sets them up for a wild-card round game against Houston on Saturday.
“If you’re picking a time to peak, this is the time to do it,” stated offensive coordinator Greg Roman last week. “I think we’ve made a lot of strides throughout the year, and now we’re starting to see the outcomes of our hard work.”
A significant factor contributing to this explosive offensive performance is the synchrony between the run and pass games.
Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 346 yards in the recent game, marking his first 300-yard performance since October 21 against Arizona. Receiver Quentin Johnston achieved career-highs with 13 receptions and 186 receiving yards, making it the highest yardage by a Chargers player since Keenan Allen’s 183 yards against Houston in Week 3 of 2019.
Ladd McConkey also set a record with ten consecutive games of at least 50 receiving yards, breaking the previous NFL rookie record held by Odell Beckham Jr. from 2014.
The return of J.K. Dobbins has greatly enhanced the run game, with the Chargers averaging 121.8 yards and 4.1 yards per carry while he’s on the field. In contrast, the team averaged just 74.8 yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry during Dobbins’ four-game absence due to a knee injury.
This offensive balance has allowed Herbert to capitalize on play actions effectively. Herbert currently leads the league with a 75.5% completion percentage on play fakes. On Sunday alone, he completed all 12 of his play-action attempts for 176 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s ideally when we’re at our best as an offense – having everyone involved, including Ladd on third downs, along with Q (Johnston), Dis (tight end Will Dissly), and our strong run game. Combining all those elements allows us to play our best football,” Herbert explained.
Looking ahead, the Chargers will prepare for a Houston defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest yards per game (315) and has recorded the second-most interceptions with 19.
Coach Jim Harbaugh expressed confidence, stating, “I think we’re in a good place. The guys are ready to roll,” as he approaches the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons as an NFL head coach.
A noteworthy aspect of their performance has been the Chargers’ defense, which permitted the fewest points in the league (301). This marks the first time this statistical achievement has been accomplished by the Chargers since 1963 when they were part of the American Football League. The defense effectively limited opponents to only 18 touchdowns across 40 red-zone opportunities, resulting in a league-best 45% rate.
However, the team has faced challenges, particularly in pass defense, having allowed 11 passing touchdowns of 25 yards or more—ranking second in the league. Notably, five of these long touchdowns came within the last four games, including a 25-yard touchdown by Jakobi Meyers of Las Vegas during the recent match.
On the upswing, rookie Joe Alt excelled in his inaugural start at left tackle, yielding just one quarterback pressure across 37 pass-blocking snaps. He shifted from right tackle following Rashawn Slater’s unexpected inactivation, due to knee discomfort noted during warmups.
In contrast, cornerback Kristian Fulton struggled, allowing four receptions for 62 yards, including a touchdown to Meyers. Fulton has faced 18 targets over the previous four games, conceding 15 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns, raising concerns about his recent performances.
Injury updates indicate that Slater will undergo an MRI to assess the extent of his knee discomfort. Additionally, running back Gus Edwards (ankle), wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot), and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) were sidelined during the game against the Raiders.
Some key statistics include Herbert’s three interceptions, the second fewest in NFL history for a quarterback with over 450 pass attempts, and the Chargers’ 11 wins this season, their highest total since achieving 12 victories in 2018. They also remarkably recorded just nine turnovers, setting a franchise record and ranking third in NFL history.
As they prepare for their upcoming matchup, the Chargers haven’t faced the Texans since a 41-29 defeat during Week 17 of the 2021 season. The all-time series between the two teams favors Los Angeles 5-3, though the Chargers have dropped three of the last four encounters.