PFF Numbers and Data: Key Insights for Texans Chargers

• Explosive passing plays may be hard to come by: It may be difficult for either team to play explosively on the field in this match, given the strength of the defense they face. The Chargers were the NFL’s best defense against passes thrown 20 or more yards down the field, earning a league-leading 40.1 passer rating on such attempts. Houston isn’t far behind, giving up the fifth-lowest passer rating (74.2) on deep attempts.

• The pressure will be relentless, but that may not matter: Los Angeles has struggled up front, posting a league-high pressure rate of 40%. Justin Herbert has still held up well, though, with a 75.9 passer rating under pressure, the 10th-best mark among quarterbacks.

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Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers

It may be difficult for either team to play explosively on the field in this match, given the strength of the defense they face. The Chargers were the NFL’s best defense against passes thrown 20 or more yards down the field, earning a league-leading 40.1 passer rating on such attempts. Houston isn’t far behind, giving up the fifth-lowest passer rating (74.2) on deep attempts.

Each defense has also completed five deep passes, which ranks them fourth in the league this season.

With vertical shots likely to be limited, the outcome could come down to passing protection and how each quarterback performs under pressure.

Los Angeles has struggled up front, allowing a league-high 40% pressure rate, but Justin Herbert has still held up well and posted a 75.9 passer rating under pressure, the 10th-best mark among quarterbacks.

Houston has been sturdier in protection, giving up a 28% pressure rate – 11th lowest in the NFL – but CJ Stroud has been less efficient when pressured, with a 67.2 passer rating that ranks 20th.

From PFF’s key insights:

• Justin Herbert ranks third in the NFL in total scramble yards with 398. Houston’s defense generates pressure at the fourth-highest rate in the league, which could force Herbert to rely more on his legs in this matchup.

• Nico Collins is targeting the 12th highest rate among wide receivers against zone coverage, and the Chargers are playing zone at the seventh highest rate in the NFL.

• Ladd McConkey ranks 19th among wide receivers in target percentage when defenses generate pressure, which could lead to more opportunities against a Houston defense that ranks fourth in pressure percentage.

• Christian Kirk has been more effective against single-high coverage this season, posting the fourth-largest difference between MOFC (center of the field closed) and MOFO (center of the field open) coverages. He’s unlikely to see much single-high coverage against the Chargers, who rank fourth in MOFO scoring.