In a highly anticipated Wild Card matchup, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers faced off against the Houston Texans, presenting an opportunity for the Chargers to dispel negative postseason narratives. However, the Chargers' offense faltered, leading to a disappointing 32-12 loss that further entrenched these narratives.

The Texans, led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, executed a solid performance, completing 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Nico Collins made significant contributions with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, while running back Joe Mixon added 80 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was also efficient, successfully converting all three of his field goal attempts. The Texans advanced to the Divisional Round for the second consecutive year.

Coming into this game, the Chargers were on a three-game winning streak and were regarded as a formidable contender. Unfortunately, Justin Herbert’s performance fell short of expectations; he completed 14 of 29 passes for 242 yards but threw an alarming four interceptions, surpassing his total from the regular season. The inability to manage the game effectively and the significant number of turnovers stifled any chance the Chargers had to progress beyond the Wild Card Round.