The two teams that I had pegged before the 2025 season opened for longshot Super Bowl winners kickoff today’s National Football League doubleheader when the Los Angeles Chargers host the Houston Texans with a 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time start. Tonight, beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Green Bay Packers entertain the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens will apparently be without the services of quarterback Lamar Jackson, and with Jordan Love clearing concussion protocol, I was liking the chances of the Packers in this one. Then, yesterday, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur announced he would sit Love.
What?
LaFleur, who made the worst coaching decision in NFL history when he kicked a field goal while trailing by eight points and in the redzone in a playoff game in the final minutes, now sits his starting quarterback with the division lead still within his team’s reach? The Detroit Lions loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas clinched a playoff berth for the Packers, but with a win today and next Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, coupled with two Chicago losses against the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, Green Bay could win their division and a home game to open the postseason.
Is LaFleur so confident that the Bears can win at least one of their last two that he doesn’t give his team the best chance to overtake them in the NFC North Division standings?
I still think the Packers are going to win, but following his announcement to sit his starting quarterback, I’m not betting on it.
The early game features a pair of teams that have had to overcome injuries to get into the six team AFC playoff field. The Chargers are assured a playoff spot; the Texans are on the cusp of getting into the playoff field with still a possibility of winning the AFC South Division race. They come into action this week one game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Being on the cusp of a playoff berth and clinching a spot is a huge difference. I don’t, and I suspect the Texans don’t, care that the odds are 99% that they enter the playoff field … 100% is a whole lot better.
They can reach that plateau with a win today in Los Angeles, and I think they are going to get it against a Chargers team they also knocked out of the playoffs last season with a Wild Card win in Houston.
The Charges success this year has been earned despite losing their two best offensive linemen. All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater was lost during the preseason, and Joe Alt went down last month with a season ending injury. The Chargers also lost their number one runningback, Najee Harris. Still, Jim Harbaugh has coached his team to where they are a threat to the first place Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
Going for first place or needing a win to lock up a playoff spot against a team already in, offers a huge edge for the team in need.
The Texans stumbled out of the gate, losing their first three games and their quarterback to an injury. Still, like the Chargers, pulled it together to make a run towards a Super Bowl.
The strength of the Texans is their defense, and that unit has played well enough to compensate for a stodgy offense. Now, with the defense still operating at full capacity, the offense with a healthy C.J. Stroud is marking the Texans a tough out in the postseason.
That will include a road win today.
Qoxhi Picks: Houston Texans (+1) over Los Angeles Chargers