The Los Angeles Chargers open their 2026 preseason on the road Thursday night, visiting the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Both clubs reached the playoffs a year ago, yet this opener will look nothing like January. Houston sits as a short home favorite on the spread, and the total has already dropped since the number opened. Jim Harbaugh plans to rest his front-line group, so backups and roster hopefuls will settle this one. Our best bet leans on that reality, and the tight spread tells the story.
Last Updated: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX |
| When | Thursday, August 13 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | ABC13 (Houston), CBS (Los Angeles); NFL+ (in-market) |
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans Betting Preview
Both teams arrive with recent success. Houston went 12-5 in 2025 and reached the playoffs for a third straight season. The Texans beat Pittsburgh 30-6 in the Wild Card round before falling to New England 28-16 in the Divisional round. The Chargers finished 11-6 and grabbed the No. 7 seed. Their year ended fast, though, with a 16-3 Wild Card loss to the Patriots.
The two sides know each other well. Houston edged the Chargers 20-16 in Week 17 last season, a result that helped clinch its playoff spot. The Texans also handled Los Angeles 32-12 in the Wild Card round a year earlier. Familiar names lead both rosters, with head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud in Houston and head coach Jim Harbaugh and signal caller Justin Herbert in Los Angeles.
None of that January context carries over cleanly, however. Harbaugh confirmed his starters, including Herbert, will not play in the opener. Five offensive line regulars sit as well, and left tackle Rashawn Slater is nursing a minor muscle issue. Houston takes a similar path. Ryans said a “select group” of veterans will sit while the staff evaluates younger players on the fringe of making the roster. The result is a backup-driven evaluation game for both sidelines. For more preseason angles, see our recent NFL preseason prediction coverage.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | +1 (-110) | +100 | O 36.5 (-110) |
| Texans | -1 (-110) | -120 | U 36.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of Thursday, August 13, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Chargers | 46% | 54% | Texans |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Chargers vs. Texans Prediction — Which Side Holds the Edge With Starters Resting?
The spread opened with Houston laying 1.5 points. It has since ticked down to a 1-point number, which is close to a coin flip. That small move matters. It tells us the market is not confident in either side once the front-line players step aside. Public spread money is nearly even too, with the Texans drawing 54% and the Chargers 46%.
The case for Houston is straightforward. The Texans are playing at home in front of their crowd. Ryans has kept only a “select group” out, so several near-first-team players could still see early snaps. Preseason edges often come down to which roster fields stronger depth in the opening quarter. Houston’s second wave looks more settled than a Chargers group missing Herbert and five offensive line starters.
The counterpoint is real. Harbaugh’s backups have looked sharp in past summers, and the Chargers carry a deep, well-coached roster top to bottom. A single point of cushion offers little protection when preseason results could potentially swing on one special-teams play. Still, the home team playing more of its front-line talent early is the cleaner read at such a short number.
The Pick: Texans -1 (-110)
Chargers vs. Texans Prediction — Will a Backup-Heavy Opener Clear the Number?
The total is the sharper signal on this card. It opened at 38.5 and has fallen to 36.5, a two-point drop toward the under. That kind of move usually reflects informed money on a low-scoring night. Preseason openers tend to be sloppy. Timing is off, play-calling stays vanilla, and drives stall in backup hands.
There is a path to the over. A defensive score or a long, sustained drive from a hungry backup can flip a preseason total in a hurry. Meanwhile, both defenses will also rotate deep, which can open lanes late. Even so, the line movement and the conservative approach from both staffs point the same direction. The under is the side the market is backing here.
The Pick: Under 36.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
One wrinkle stands out on the side. With the spread sitting at exactly 1 point, a single-point Houston win would push the spread bet. The moneyline avoids that outcome. Texans backers who expect a narrow home win can take the price and sidestep the push risk. The tradeoff is a slightly larger cost for a game with plenty of variance, so keep the stake modest.
The Bonus Pick: Texans Moneyline (-120)
To recap, the card lines up around Houston’s depth and a quiet scoring script. All picks: Texans -1 (-110), Under 36.5 (-110), and a bonus lean on the Texans moneyline (-120). None of these is a sure thing in a backup-heavy opener, so treat them as small preseason plays rather than anchors.
NFL Chargers vs. Texans FAQ: Thursday August 13, 2026
What time does the Chargers vs. Texans game start?
The Chargers and Texans kick off at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The preseason opener is played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Local time in Houston is 7:00 PM CT.
What channel is the Chargers vs. Texans game on?
The game airs on local broadcast television rather than a national network. Viewers in Houston can watch on ABC13, while the Los Angeles market carries it on CBS. In-market fans can also stream it through NFL+ or fubo.
Where are the Chargers and Texans playing?
The teams play at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, the Texans’ home venue. The building carried the NRG Stadium name in recent years and reverted to Reliant Stadium for the 2026 season. It first opened as Reliant Stadium in 2002.
Who won the last meeting between the Chargers and Texans?
Houston won the most recent meeting, edging Los Angeles 20-16 in Week 17 of the 2025 regular season. That victory helped the Texans lock up a playoff berth. Houston also beat the Chargers 32-12 in the Wild Card round following the 2024 season.
Is Justin Herbert playing?
No, Justin Herbert will not play in the preseason opener. Jim Harbaugh confirmed his starters will sit, with a group of veterans warming up but not taking the field. Backup quarterbacks Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei will each play a half, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Justin Herbert is scheduled to see his first game action later in the preseason.