NFL Football
2025-12-27 - Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 17
Saturday 27th December 2025 - Scheduled 4:30pm
9:30pm (British Time)
Preview
There will be a lot of talk around the Playoff meeting between these teams at the end of the 2024 season, but this Week 17 game is massively important for both the Houston Texans (10-5) and Los Angeles Chargers (11-4).
After the win secured by the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day, the Chargers remain in a position where two wins to close out the regular season will see them take the AFC West Division and potentially the Number 1 Seed in the Conference.
A loss would mean the end of those hopes for the Chargers and they will be entering the Playoff as a Wild Card team, while at the same time it will allow the Houston Texans to enter Week 18 with a chance to win the AFC South.
There is a bit more pressure on the Texans in that they could allow the Indianapolis Colts to push past them by losing their remaining two games, while the Houston players have spoken about trying to match the intensity of the hosts. There is a real expectation that the Los Angeles Chargers will be fired up to make up for the awful way the season ended in that Wild Card defeat to the Houston Texans.
Four Interceptions were thrown by Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Quarter Back has admitted that he still thinks about his personal performance in that defeat.
Once again Herbert has to be expecting a tough challenge from the Houston Texans who may have the best Defensive unit in the NFL, although they have struggled to stop the run with consistency in recent outings. This Chargers Offensive Line have opened up a few holes at the Line of Scrimmage and that is going to be an important part of this game with the team looking to keep Justin Herbert in third and manageable spots on the field.
Attacking this Secondary is going to be very difficult, while the Houston Texans have a pass rush that will look to get in and around Justin Herbert whenever he drops back to throw the ball.
Jim Harbaugh will have confidence in the Offensive game plan, but the Head Coach will also have a lot of belief in the Chargers Defensive unit.
Houston have won seven in a row, but they have not always been the most convincing on the Offensive side of the ball, although Quarter Back CJ Stroud has plenty of positive experience in his young career. However, unlike the Chargers, the Houston Offensive Line may struggle to help establish the run against a tough Los Angeles Defensive Line.
CJ Stroud has been well protected when he has dropped back to throw the ball, and he has some solid numbers of late- of course it should be noted that the Quarter Back has not faced a Secondary as good as the one the Chargers have been able to trot out onto the field.
Both of these teams look capable of having an impact in the post-season in what looks a wide open Conference, but in this game home advantage and the slightly superior Quarter Back play should come from the Los Angeles Chargers.
It also cannot be underestimated the importance of being able to establish the run and it is the Chargers that may have the edge at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball- if they can do show that on the field, the Chargers may just edge this game and set up a 'winner takes all' game that is likely to be flexed into a prime time spot against the Denver Broncos in Week 18.
Prediction
Lay the point with the home favourite in this big AFC game.
The Pick :
Los Angeles Chargers 20-17 Houston Texans
