Cross off one possible marquee matchup for Week 18.
The NFL might be scrambling to flex games that have much impact on the playoff race. The Los Angeles Chargers could have set up an AFC West championship game in Week 18 with a win Saturday, but they came out surprisingly flat against the Houston Texans. Los Angeles fell behind 14-0 in the first few minutes and never recovered in a damaging 20-16 loss.
On the Texans' first two possessions they hit two long touchdowns on a defense that rarely gives up deep passes, and that was too much for the Chargers to overcome. It's not fun going against the Texans' fierce defense when Houston has a lead.
Houston's win keeps it alive in the AFC South race — the Jacksonville Jaguars can not clinch it in Week 17 anymore — and reinforced that it is a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Houston has the best defense in the NFL and while its offense went quiet after a fast start Saturday it is getting valuable contributions from rookies late in the season and that has helped. Even if Houston doesn't beat Jacksonville for the division title, its defense will be just fine on the road in the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts were eliminated thanks to the Texans' win, while the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West title with the Chargers' loss. They still will be seeking the No. 1 seed in the AFC next week, but a potentially monumental game for the division title won't be happening in Denver. The NFL couldn't have been happy about that.
Chargers have a bad first half
Everything was off for the Chargers, and that was evident right away. Less than two minutes into the game, Texans rookie receiver Jayden Higgins ran wide open deep downfield and C.J. Stroud hit him for a 75-yard touchdown.
On Houston's second drive, Stroud threw deep to another rookie, Jaylin Noel, for a 43-yard touchdown. For a defense that doesn't give up much deep, it was a terrible start.
The offense and special teams had their own issues too. Justin Herbert hit Quentin Johnson for a 60-yard gain, then on the next play a pass went off Oronde Gadsden II's hands and was intercepted.
Al-Shaair picks it! What a momentum shift for the@HoustonTexansHOUvsLAC on@nflnetworkStream on@NFLPluspic.twitter.com/Ibq3oES6hu
— NFL (@NFL)December 27, 2025
The Chargers got it right back on a terrible interception by Stroud but Cameron Dicker, who was 68 of 68 in his career on field-goal attempts within 40 yards, missed a 32-yard attempt wide right.
The Chargers did not look like a team that needed to win to set up an AFC West championship game next week. Houston's defense is the best in the NFL and it had a lot to do with the Chargers' malaise. But the Chargers were trailing 14-3 at halftime, were outgained 258-131 in the first half and didn't look like the playoff team they are.
Houston maintains its lead
The Chargers' defense kept the team in it after the two long touchdowns at the start of the game, and Los Angeles finally got in the end zone late in the third quarter. Herbert made two fantastic plays to keep the drive going: a 28-yard run on third-and-14 and an 8-yard pass on third-and-6 when he was wrapped up but refused to go down. Gadsden scored the touchdown to cut Houston's lead to 17-10.
The way the Texans' defense was playing, it wasn't going to take too much more from Houston's offense to put the game away. Houston had a short drive after a bad L.A. punt and a 44-yard field goal put Houston ahead 20-10 with 6:29 remaining.
The Chargers got a touchdown back on a run by rookie Omarion Hampton. Dicker, who had missed only three of his 129 extra-point attempts in his career, missed the extra point wide left. Dicker is one of the best kickers in the NFL but his misses on short kicks cost the Chargers four points, and they trailed 20-16 with 3:37 remaining.
The Chargers thought they had forced a punt right before the two-minute warning, but a questionable illegal contact penalty on cornerback Tarheeb Still wiped out a third-down sack and gave Houston a first down. Los Angeles never got the ball back. The Chargers played better after a terrible start, but they once again had trouble protecting the quarterback, the special teams were a major letdown and the two big plays they allowed early in the game led to the loss.
There are still some possible big games for Week 18. The 49ers and Seahawks could play for the NFC West championship. The Panthers and Buccaneers might face off with the NFC South title on the line. There are a few potential options for the NFL to feature on Saturday and Sunday night if there are certain outcomes over the rest of Week 17. But a potentially great Broncos-Chargers matchup has a lot less juice.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers battle it out on Saturday afternoon:
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Tarohn Finley
Texans beat the Chargers, end Colts hopes of making the playoffs
The Texans got off to an unbelievable start. Quarterback CJ Stroud was 4-4 for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns early in the first quarter. Stroud completed a 75-yard and a 43-yard touchdown.
Both touchdown passes were caught by rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins and Noel played together at Iowa State. Stroud finished the game with 15-27 for 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Miscues, missed field goals, and a slow start ended the Chargers' hopes of winning this game. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert finished the game 21-32 for 236 yards, 1 touchdown, and an interception. Herbert was also sacked five times.
Cameron Dicker's missed field goal and extra point also proved costly, with the Chargers losing by four. Despite everything that went wrong, the Chargers' defense held the Texans' offense to six points after the first quarter. An illegal contact penalty ended the game for the Chargers.
The 11-5 Texans take on the Colts in their last regular-season game, while the 11-5 Chargers take on the Broncos.
Tarohn Finley
Omarion Hampton rushing TD, Cameron Dicker missed extra point
Chargers running back Omarion Hampton scores a rushing touchdown to make it a one-possession ball game late in the fourth quarter. The Chargers' scoring drive was set up by rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
Gadsden had a 25-yard catch to put the Chargers in the red zone. Gadsden was then held to put the Chargers in scoring position. Gadsden has three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans lead 20-16 after a missed extra point by Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker.
Omarion Hampton scores to make it a one-possession game 👀
A Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal extends the Houston Texans' lead to 10. The Texans' offense has struggled to put points on the board since the opening quarter. Texans' quarterback CJ Stroud is 15-27 for 225 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
The Texans lead the Chargers 20-10 late in the fourth quarter.
Oronde Gadsen II scores Chargers 1st TD of the day
Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsen II scored the Chargers' first touchdown late in the third quarter. Gadsen had shown visible frustration earlier after dropping passes he typically makes, but the touchdown should lift his spirits.
Gadsen finished the game with two catches for seven yards and a touchdown. On the season, he now has 46 receptions for 609 yards and three touchdowns. The Texans lead the Chargers 17-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Justin Herbert takes it himself to get a first down on third and 14. Herbert is 12-18 for 147 yards and an interception. Herbert also leads the team with 36 rushing yards.
The Chargers are in the red zone. The Texans lead 17-3 late in the third quarter.
Herbert takes it himself for the first and then some
Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal of the game puts the Texans up 17-3 in the third quarter. This was Fairbairn's first field goal of the game after he had three last game against the Raiders.
Tarohn Finley
Back-to-back three and outs for the Chargers to start second half
The Chargers' offense continues to struggle in the second half. Back-to-back sacks lead to another Chargers punt. The Texans have five sacks so far in the game.
The Texans lead the Chargers 14-3 in the third quarter.
The Houston Texans lead the Los Angeles 14-3 after a strong defensive performance in the first half.
After a hot start, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud is 10-18 for 185 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Rookie running back Woody Marks has 39 yards on seven carries.
The Chargers' offense has struggled to get points on the board despite multiple red zone chances. They only have three points to show for it.
Justin Herbert is 10-14 for 123 yards and an interception. Omarion Hampton has 20 rushing yards on 10 carries. The Chargers get the ball back to open the second half.
Tarohn Finley
Cameron Dicker missed FG ends tough first half for Chargers
Cameron Dicker's missed field goal ends a tough first half for the Los Angeles Chargers. This was only Dicker's third missed field goal of the season.
The Texans lead 14-3 at the break. The Chargers get the ball back to open the second half.
Tarohn Finley
CJ Stroud throws another interception
The Chargers get another opportunity to score after an interception by Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. Stroud is 10-18 for 185 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
The Texans lead the Chargers 14-3 late in the second quarter.
Another @chargers INT!@chargers get the ball right back with great field position
Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair INT ends Chargers momentum
The Chargers were driving down the field after getting their second straight stop on defense. Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair ends the Chargers' hopes of scoring with an interception. Al-Shaair left the game earlier in the quarter before returning.
The Texans lead 14-3 late in the second quarter.
Al-Shaair picks it! What a momentum shift for the @HoustonTexans
Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter questionable with knee injury
Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter is questionable after going down with a knee injury in the second quarter. Lassiter was able to walk off the field. He has 57 tackles and 4 interceptions this season.
Lassiter is a big part of the Texans' defense and was named a first alternate for the 2026 Pro Bowl.
The Chargers turned Derwin James' interception into three points from a Cameron Dicker field goal. The Chargers were able to get into the red zone for the first time in the game but could not turn it into a touchdown.
Justin Herbert is 5-8 for 53 yards. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton has 22 rushing yards on 10 carries. The quick stops have led to a 14-0 start for the Texans.
Tarohn Finley
Texans Kamari Lassiter goes down, Azeez Al-Shaair back in the game
Cornerback Kamari Lassiter went down for the Houston Texans. He was able to walk off the field. Lassiter was named a first alternate for the 2026 Pro Bowl.
Azeez Al-Shaair was able to return to the game during the drive.
Los Angeles Chargers Derwin James gets the first turnover of the game. After a rough start offensively, James' interception puts the Chargers in good field position. James was recently selected for his 5th Pro Bowl.
Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair walks off field after injury
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair walked off the field after going down early in the second quarter. Al-Shaair has 96 tackles and 1 interception this season. He was recently selected for his first career Pro Bowl.
The Houston Texans are putting on a masterclass on defense. The Chargers have more punts than Justin Herbert completions in the first quarter. Herbert is 2-3 for 14 yards.
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton has 17 rushing yards on 7 carries. The quick stops have led to a 14-0 start for the Texans.
CJ Stroud is 6-8 for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns. Stroud has thrown a 75-yard and a 43-yard touchdown so far in the game. Both touchdown passes were caught by rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins and Noel played together at Iowa State.
