This one has all the drama written on it.

The Houston Texans head into a massive showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers facing their biggest challenge yet — surviving one of the NFL’s most dangerous pass rushes without their two starting offensive tackles. Can Houston protect the quarterback long enough to win? Or does this matchup spell trouble?

We break down the biggest key matchups and storylines heading into Texans vs Chargers, including:

How Houston can withstand the Chargers’ relentless pass rush

Why time of possession may decide this game

Can the Texans’ defense rise to the moment again?

Is this a Justin Herbert bounce-back game, or will Houston’s defense shut him down like they did in last season’s playoffs?

Plus, game predictions and what has to go right for Houston to pull off a road win — and why it could be an uphill battle if they can’t control the clock.

Straight talk. Real matchups. No fluff.

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Michael Connor, Stan Norfleet and John Hickman take a look back on the Houston Texans win over the Raiders, the Pro Bowl announcement and preview the matchup against the Chargers on the Locked On Texans Squad Show.

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Let’s be real — #StopBlameNickCaley.
Houston didn’t need a new play-caller against the Raiders… they needed CJ Stroud to be better, and this time, he came up short. But how did it happen? And more importantly — are these issues fixable as the Texans push forward?

We break down exactly where Stroud struggled, what went wrong in the execution, and why this isn’t about panic — it’s about growth.

🔥 Plus, an exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Texans DT Daquan Jones
Jones takes us inside the game plan heading into the Raiders matchup, shares thoughts on Ashton Jeanty, and reflects on his journey since arriving in Houston and becoming a leader on this defense.

And don’t overlook the real difference-makers…
🏈 Calen Bullock and special teams were MASSIVE in Houston getting the win. Was this Bullock’s best non-interception game of the season? We break down why his impact went far beyond the box score.

Straight-up analysis. No sugarcoating. No scapegoating.

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The rookies brought the heat on the final day of Houston Texans training camp before heading off to West Virginia! 🚀

Airontae Ersery dominated reps vs the first-team defense and showed impressive bounce-back ability.

Woody Marks flashed major burst and vision, turning heads with several explosive runs.

Dalton Schultz opens up about why this tight end group is built differently and how they can stabilize the offense early in Nick Caley’s system.

Plus, we break down:
🏈 What to expect from the team in West Virginia
🔥 Early expectations for the first preseason game
👀 Who’s separating from the pack on offense

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Houston got the win… but not the way anyone drew it up.

The Texans escape with a hard-fought victory against a 2-win Raiders team, and while the scoreboard shows a “W,” the tape tells a much messier story. Las Vegas took away Houston’s run game, neutralized one of the Texans’ biggest weapons, and completely disrupted the play-action attack.

Let’s be clear — this is not about blaming Jordan. The offensive line actually did a solid job protecting the quarterback. CJ Stroud wasn’t sacked once. But despite the clean pocket, Stroud played like he felt pressure that wasn’t there — and that matters. He has to be better. Period.

The Raiders struggled to generate consistent pressure, yet still finished with 6 tackles for loss. Houston managed just 3.2 yards per carry, continuing a troubling trend:

When the Texans rush for under 100 yards, they average just 17 points per game

On defense, the issues are starting to stack up. For the second straight week, Houston gave up explosive plays:

6 plays of 10+ yards

3 plays of 30+ yards

The absence of Azeez Al-Shaair was felt, and the lack of depth at defensive tackle continues to show. Still, there were positives — including 7 defensive drives of five plays or fewer, proving this unit can still clamp down when it locks in.

We’ll also take a step back and reflect on what this 7-game winning streak truly means for the Texans — from DeMeco Ryans’ leadership to the belief inside the locker room and coaching staff.

It wasn’t pretty.
It wasn’t clean.
But Houston found a way.

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Michael Connor, Wade Smith, Stan Norfleet and John Hickman break down the Houston Texans game against the Las Vegas Raiders on the Locked On Texans Squad Show.

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New faces. Same expectations.
And the Houston Texans defense is still looking to dominate.

With injuries piling up along the defensive line, Houston had to reload fast—and now the spotlight is on Naquan Jones and Marlon Davidson. Can these two be the answers for an injury-riddled defensive tackle unit that still expects elite results?

🔍 Naquan Jones

Logged snaps against Arizona and made his presence felt

An all-hustle interior defender who does his job—every snap

Strong against the run

Consistent double-team splitter

Quick feet that shine vs. zone runs

Comfortable taking on double teams
Is he one of those “can’t send him back” guys? And can he step into the Mario Edwards–type role for this Texans defense?

🔍 Marlon Davidson

Former second-round pick

Fresh opportunity, fresh expectations

What can he realistically provide inside for Houston right now?

PLUS 🔥
🎙️ EXCLUSIVE one-on-one with Tytus Howard
We talk about:

What’s been most surprising about this Texans six-game win streak

The mindset inside the locker room

Why expectations haven’t changed—even with new faces stepping in

This episode is all about Texans defense, depth, dominance, and belief. If Houston’s interior holds strong, this team’s ceiling gets even higher.

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Sunday afternoon isn’t a walk in the park for the Houston Texans — and the Las Vegas Raiders are bringing real problems to NRG Stadium.

The Raiders’ defense is far from soft. Their outside corners are quietly having strong seasons:

Eric Stokes is playing his best football since entering the league

Rookie Darien Porter has allowed just 200 receiving yards all season

And it gets tougher. Vegas stacks the box 61% of the time, and when they do, they allow just 2.92 yards per carry. That’s a major red flag for Houston, because when the Texans face a stacked box, they’re averaging only 2.62 YPC. That math doesn’t lie.

So how does Houston combat it?
This game may come down to one thing: the tackles holding up. If they play clean and physical, we could finally see the best version of the Texans’ rushing attack.

Plus, one matchup could tilt the entire game in Houston’s favor — Dalton Schultz vs Devin White. If the Texans exploit it correctly, it could be a BIG-time advantage.

And then there’s the question fans are whispering about…
Could Jahwar Jordan be the next Arian Foster?
Or is that asking way too much, way too fast?

Oh — and don’t forget: the Texans defense is looking to dominate. If Houston wants this win, it starts with physicality, pressure, and setting the tone early.

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