Christmas week in the 2025 NFL season features multiple giveaways spanning four separate days. The yuletide celebration continues Saturday with two games, including an AFC matchup between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers. Houston (9-5) is looking to secure a playoff spot, while Los Angeles (11-4) is in contention for the AFC West title.
Let’s get into my predictions for the Texans vs. Chargers.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers odds
Money line: Texans +108 / Chargers -126
Spread: Texans +1.5 (-105) / Chargers -1.5 (-115)
Total: Over 39.5 (-110) / Under 39.5 (-110)
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers best bet #1: Texans ML (+108)
The Texans have won seven games in a row despite facing tough competition. Among the seven players who have already lost are Jacksonville, Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Kansas City – when the Chiefs were in contention for the playoffs and before Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL. Houston’s defense is the best in the entire league. It is the No. 1 overall (272.3 yards allowed per game), No. 1 in scoring (16.6 points per game allowed), No. 4 against the pass, No. 2 in yards per pass attempt allowed, No. 4 against the run, No.
Los Angeles is on a four-game winning streak, but struggled against Philly (22-19 in overtime) and KC (16-13 after Mahomes went down). Except when harassing the Cowboys and Raiders’ woeful defenses, LA’s offense has struggled since a 35-6 loss to the Jaguars in Week 11. There’s no reason to worry too much about Houston’s 23-21 win in Las Vegas last weekend. That was a classic pitch against a bad team with the biggest game of all time against the Chargers six days later. This is a repeat of the 2024 Wildcard playoff game from last season, when the Texans destroyed the Bolts 32-12.
Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers best player prop bet: Woody Marks Over 48.5 rushing yards (-110)
Houston’s winning formula throughout this hot streak isn’t hard to explain. The recipe is to create leads with its outstanding defense and use the clock with the offense to control the ball.
Grades are a big part of that process. He has rushed for at least 64 yards in three of the past four games and at least 62 yards in five of the past eight. The USC product had 26 carries in the Week 15 win over the Chiefs and has run for 16 or more times in four of the past five games. Marks now faces a Los Angeles defense that is allowing 4.4 yards per carry. By comparison, the Chargers are No. 6 in the league in pass defense and No. 6 in yards per pass attempt allowed.
