Texans vs. Chargers: Playoff Game Insights & Predictions

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00:00A game number one is in houston the texans a home dog to the los angeles chargers

00:06Very similar to last year. They were home dogs to the cleveland browns. I don't know maybe in hindsight

00:12That was insane that joe flacco was laying on the road. He was donnie

00:17Yeah, I think he still threw for a ton of yards in that game

00:20They only put up 14 points a browns defense that was out of this world last year gave up 45

00:27To cj stroud in his postseason debut. So what does he have for an encore? Well positioned right now?

00:34Depends where you look plus three

00:37Minus two and a half and obviously it's a key number

00:40It makes the difference within this game. The total at the moment is sitting 41 and a half nearly everywhere

00:46There is a 42 out there right now

00:49So a number dropping maybe just a little bit as we get closer to kick

00:54Lisa you start to dive into this game and what stands out?

00:57Well again, we talk about how hot la is from an offensive perspective. They have won three straight by 18 points per game

01:03They've scored 30 plus points in all three of those victories down the stretch. They dominated las vegas last week

01:1034 to 20 justin herbert with a huge performance and you look at justin herbert over the last three games kevin

01:16He's averaged 303.6 passing yards per game dominating in terms of the passing attack

01:22That's opened up jk. Dobbins and the rushing attack later in matchups

01:26And they've been able to sustain drives and hold on to win these games down the stretch and on the flip side

01:31You talk about an offensive identity for houston right now

01:34They struggled they picked up the win last week against tennessee. That was with davis mills in the backups

01:40They win it 23 to 14, but you look at the numbers for cj stroud guys over the last five weeks

01:46He's only averaged 209

01:480.8 passing yards per game. They've relied more on joe mixon than the passing attack. I think it needs to change today

01:55I do like houston

01:57The fact that they're playing at home. I think it's a bounce back for cj stroud a huge day

02:01I believe for nico collins his numbers 83 and a half

02:05I altered them up to 100 plus and a touchdown and you look at the total

02:09It started at 44 and a half back down to 41 and a half eight home games for houston

02:14They've totaled 41.8 points per game. We're right on the total. I think we see points of plenty

02:20Give me houston in the over

02:22If we are looking at this game too with the spreads between two and a half and threes depending where he's shopping

02:26I think most people saying if i'm going to pick a favorite this week

02:28It's probably going to be the chargers because I was the same way monday when the line came out the chargers victory

02:33Let's move on but joe is right. It's still a home playoff game. It's a different environment here

02:37You also liked what you saw to the houston texans first drive of the game

02:40Let's get a touchdown six for six cj stroud boom in and out of the game

02:43Everybody's healthy lining up for the playoffs

02:44but at the same time

02:45It just feels like jim harbaugh is that playoff coach that you would want the offensive line back being healthy

02:50Jk. Dobbins is back. You take a look at lad mcconkie who's been great this year, but banged up at times

02:55He got a chance to rest, you know sort of and say you know what?

02:57My legs are much better at this point now

02:59So when I actually analyze this game overall i'm having a tough time here late in the week

03:03Joe byers remorse as you want to call it while i'm leaning more and more to the houston texans

03:07But understanding this if there is a team I think is going to be ready for the playoffs

03:11That isn't a perennial playoff performer getting deep into the playoffs

03:14It would be harbaugh squad the way he coaches, you know, they're going to run the football

03:17You saw the graphic pop up earlier only three interceptions on the season for harvard

03:21They're going to take care of that football. How about this quentin johnston?

03:23Actually legitimate target the past couple weeks making big catches and getting a lot of yards. He's catching the football but johnson

03:30Dr. Donahue you want to take that one? I mean some questions with the hamstring on the injury report

03:35Jk. Dobbins on the injury report

03:37Yeah, I would not say that the chargers are the healthier team because when you take in the scope of the season

03:43No, they're not when you just look at the injury like who we were thinking would play versus who might be a little banged up

03:50Houston's news is a little bit cleaner. We knew digs tanked out, right?

03:53Obviously, we're never playing within this football game. What really stands out to me when you dive into this game is

04:00The texans do have the better defense that is the advantage that sits on the houston side of this game

04:07And I pretty inarguably if you're if you like dvoa the texans rank inside the top five chargers group isn't bad

04:14But I do look at that chargers defense

04:17Against teams that made the postseason you want to throw cincinnati in the mix. You certainly could

04:21Who had themselves a huge second half got to 27?

04:24You look at what baltimore did to this team got up to 30 points

04:27Denver nearly ran and hid from this chargers team and would have put them up against it for a postseason spot

04:33Again, a great comeback, but we saw that broncos offense going

04:37Incredibly the only legitimate playoff team that couldn't get to 20 plus against la

04:43Yeah, the kansas city chiefs the worst the worst good team you've ever seen in your entire life

04:47I look at the texans and while the plus three is tempting because I think their defense can step up

04:54I'm, very interested in the texans team total and play that number at 19 and a half minus 122 price

05:00You could go 20 and a half and a plus 114 I saw

05:04We've seen this team land 20. We've seen this team have 20. Okay, they kick the field goal to get to 23

05:11I think that gap in juice is ultimately worth it here. I'm not saying that houston's going to go out and get you

05:1728 35 30 maybe that's great

05:21But I don't think the texans are going to come away with this game lisi

05:25Incapable of finding the end zone multiple times i'm on their team total at 19

05:29And I like to look and the reason why I say that is even though joe mixon's been there

05:33This is an opportunity to get back to where you were last year. You have to live and die

05:38I believe with cj shroud in the passing attack

05:40Even though you might want to run joe mixon later in this game

05:43You can't just go in and expect joe mixon to take the game over

05:47I think that's the defensive mindset for la. Let's put the game on cj shroud. He has been inconsistent

05:53This is an opportunity for bobby sloach and the offense to be more aggressive and think about the two games

05:58That they lost prior to the victory last week against tennessee

06:02They only put up two against baltimore 19 against kansas city, right?

06:06They lost two of those games heading into the week 18 matchup. They were very clean on the first drive

06:11I think they he opened it up

06:13So that's why I like to look and then the flip side if we're talking about la just a quick minute

06:18This is their third straight row game right on the road against new england two weeks ago on a saturday

06:23Went back on the road to las vegas. Now. They're back on the road to houston

06:27It's three straight row games that could also be a cause of concern

06:30Do they start a little bit flat to start this game from a defensive perspective?

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