NFL predictions: How Chargers vs. Texans impacts AFC playoff image

Formally, the NFL playoffs don’t start till Jan. 10. However do not inform that to educate DeMeco Ryans, whose Houston Texans face the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.

“Proper now, it is a playoff sport versus the Chargers,” he stated throughout his weekly Wednesday press convention. “We all know they’ve quite a bit to play for. We’ve got quite a bit to play for. How else would you need it?”

There may be actually a lot driving on Saturday’s matchup. The sport options two of the most well liked groups within the league. The Chargers (11-4) have received 4 in a row and 7 of their final eight and are nonetheless within the hunt for the AFC West title in addition to the No. 1 general seed within the AFC playoffs. In the meantime, the Texans (10-5) are on a NFL-best seven-game successful streak and may clinch a spot within the postseason with a win or tie (or a Colts loss or tie on Sunday to the Jaguars). Houston additionally may win its division however wants an unlikely loss by Jacksonville this week or subsequent.

However in accordance with the SportsLine Contained in the Strains staff and Projection Mannequin, the loser of Saturday’s sport may really come out because the winner in the long term.

The winner of Saturday’s sport has a great shot of being the highest wild card staff within the AFC, if not a division champion. That staff would have a wild card spherical matchup in opposition to the worst division champion, which figures to be both the Steelers (9-6) or Ravens (7-8). In the meantime, the loser of Saturday’s sport would face, if the present standings maintain, both the Patriots (12-3) or Jaguars (11-4) on the street.

However the mannequin, which simulates each NFL sport 10,000 occasions, has each Pittsburgh and Baltimore larger than New England and Jacksonville in its energy rankings.

Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favourite over Houston within the newest odds from DraftKings.

Saturday’s sport is a rematch of a wild card playoff sport final season, which the Texans received 32-12. In that sport, Houston intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert 4 occasions, which was another interception than he had thrown all common season.

This yr, the Texans characteristic the No. 1 scoring protection within the NFL at 16.6 factors per sport. They’ll go up in opposition to a makeshift Los Angeles offensive line that will probably be lacking its beginning tackles.

“That is the place you wish to be in December,” Ryans says. “You wish to be enjoying significant video games, and that’s what this staff has earned.”