Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) will face off against the Houston Texans (10-7) this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
According to BetMGM, the Chargers are favored by three points.
When it comes to betting statistics, the Chargers have an impressive record at 12-5 against the spread, while the Texans hold a 7-8-2 record.
In their competitive history, the Chargers lead the series 6-3.
The last encounter saw the Chargers emerge victorious with a score of 34-24 on October 2, 2022, in Houston.
Last week, the Chargers defeated the Raiders 34-20, while the Texans secured a win against the Titans 23-14.

Examining the offensive and defensive statistics, the Chargers rank 20th overall in offense, 17th in rushing, 19th in passing, and 11th in scoring.
On the defensive side, the Chargers are performing remarkably well, ranking 11th overall, 7th in rushing defense, 14th in passing, and first in scoring defense.
The Texans’ offense is slightly behind, ranking 22nd overall, with the 15th in rushing, 21st in passing, and 19th in scoring.
In contrast, their defense is strong, ranking 5th overall, 11th in rushing defense, 6th in passing defense, and 14th in scoring.
Both teams have positive turnover differentials, with the Chargers at plus-12 and the Texans at plus-10.

For the Chargers, quarterback Justin Herbert will be a focal point as he seeks his first playoff victory in his second postseason appearance.
The fifth-year signal-caller joined an elite group, becoming only the second player in NFL history to throw over 500 attempts while having three or fewer interceptions in a single season.
Herbert has shown improvements in passer rating this year despite a career-low average of 227.6 passing yards per game, boasting a career-best rating of 101.7.
Notably, in his last eight away games, he has thrown for 10 touchdowns without any interceptions, coupled with a 106.8 rating.
Remarkably, he has also surpassed 335 passing yards in both previous matchups against the Texans.

On the Texans’ side, running back Joe Mixon stands out as a player with considerable playoff experience after playing seven postseason games with the Bengals in 2021 and 2022.
He has averaged 83.1 total yards in his playoff games, scoring two touchdowns in the process.
This season, Mixon has rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, placing him among four AFC running backs achieving at least 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns.
Additionally, he accumulated 309 receiving yards, securing his status as the only player in the NFL to accrue at least 1,250 yards from scrimmage in each of the past four seasons.

A critical matchup to watch will be between the Texans’ defensive line and the Chargers’ offensive line, as coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the importance of this battle.
The Texans boast defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who have a combined total of 23 sacks and 33 tackles for losses this season.
To counter, the Chargers have Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, who allowed only three sacks and 22 pressures this season.
Slater is anticipated to return after missing last week’s game due to a knee issue.
Rookie right tackle Joe Alt, who was the fifth overall selection in the draft, has allowed six sacks and 20 pressures.

In terms of injuries, the Chargers have running back J.K. Dobbins, who was limited in practice due to an ankle injury but is expected to play.
Running back Gus Edwards is also working through an ankle injury with limited practice.
Additionally, tackle Trey Pipkins has been limited with an oblique injury.
On the Texans’ side, Anderson is set to return after missing the previous week because of a hand injury.
Wide receiver John Metchie participated in practice with a shoulder issue but is projected to be ready for Saturday.
Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi may return after missing three games with an ankle issue, and cornerback Jeff Okudah is likely to return after recovering from a concussion.

Looking back at their series history, the Chargers initially won the first four contests, starting with a dominant 24-3 win in Houston’s first season in 2002.
The Texans claimed victory over the Chargers in 2013, marking their first win in the series, and they won consecutive matches in 2019 and 2021.

In terms of playoff statistics, the Chargers are chasing their first playoff victory since the 2018 season and are set to play their sixth consecutive road playoff game, holding a 2-3 record during this stretch.
Historically, the Chargers sit at 6-10 in road playoff games.
Coach Jim Harbaugh carries a playoff record of 5-3, previously coaching the San Francisco 49ers.
Dobbins set a personal best with 1,058 scrimmage yards this season, with over 50 scrimmage yards in every game he played.
Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey set franchise records with 82 receptions and 1,149 receiving yards, notching 11 straight games with at least 50 receiving yards.
In their last matchup, Quentin Johnston recorded a personal best of 13 receptions for 186 yards against Las Vegas.
Notably, the Chargers made history this season, leading the league in scoring defense for the first time since 1963, only allowing 17.7 points on average per game.

For the Texans, this marks their second consecutive playoff appearance after clinching the AFC South title.
Last season, they beat the Browns 45-14 before falling to Baltimore in the divisional round.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud is already making a name for himself, becoming the seventh player in NFL history to throw for at least 3,500 yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons.
He had three touchdown passes without an interception during his two playoff games last season.
A win on Saturday could make him the sixth quarterback in history to start and win playoff games in both of his initial seasons.
Running back Dameon Pierce had an impressive outing last week, rushing for a career-high 176 yards, which included a remarkable 92-yard touchdown run.
Wide receiver Nico Collins led the Texans with 68 receptions for 1,006 yards in the regular season, marking his second consecutive 1,000-yard season.
He ranks fourth in the NFL, averaging 83.8 receiving yards per game and has scored in six of his last seven home games, playoffs included.
Tight end Dalton Schultz shares the distinction with Travis Kelce as the only tight ends to record at least 50 receptions and 500 receiving yards in each of the past five seasons.
He has also scored in three of his last four playoff outings.
Defensive end Hunter recorded 12 sacks this season, marking his sixth season with 10 or more sacks.
He has recorded either a sack or forced a fumble in every game he has played against the Chargers.
Anderson matched his career-best with 11 sacks and made impactful plays in both playoff games last season.
In the secondary, cornerback Derek Stingley finished second in the NFL with 18 passes defended, while safety Calen Bullock led all rookies with five interceptions.