Chargers Roll Into Houston for Preseason Curtain Raiser

The Chargers make the trek to NRG Stadium to face the Texans in what amounts to the NFL's annual August dress rehearsal. Neither team has much to prove in mid-August beyond keeping their starters healthy and giving the coaching staff a live look at roster bubble candidates fighting for the final spots.

Houston enters with renewed optimism after a promising 2025 campaign, banking on continuity with their young core. The Texans' home-field advantage means little in preseason, but they'll lean on familiar surroundings to shake off the rust. Expect C.J. Stroud and company to see limited snaps before handing the keys to the backup brigade.

Los Angeles counters with their own youth movement, though Jim Harbaugh's first preseason game as head coach adds intrigue. The Chargers' revamped offensive line will get its first test, even if it's against vanilla defensive looks. Special teams battles and third-string quarterback play will dominate the second half, as always.

Preseason football is a different beast entirely—motivation is murky, game-planning is nonexistent, and the scoreboard often lies. Both squads will script their opening drives, then let chaos reign. DarkHorse hasn't weighed in with a pick yet, which tells you everything about how seriously sharp money takes these exhibitions. Treat this one as a glorified scrimmage, because that's exactly what it is.