The Los Angeles Chargers are still alive in the race for the AFC West heading into Week 17. A victory over the Houston Texans will grant them the chance to compete with the Denver Broncos in Week 18 for the title.
Yet the Texans could present the most potent threat that Justin Herbert and the Chargers' offensive line has faced so far this season.
With both Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson in their arsenal, Houston has perhaps the most lethal pass rush in the NFL. Left tackle Jamaree Salyer is set to miss the game, and right guard Mekhi Becton is questionable with a knee injury.
Anyone with eyes can see this is a recipe for disaster, especially given how important it will be to maintain Justin Herbert's health as the team heads into the playoffs.
Justin Herbert will yet again be put at risk against the Texans
The Texans have a strange defense from a statistical perrspective. They are in the 20th in the NFL in pressure percentage and 24th in blitz percentage. Yet they have amassed 41 sacks on the season, including 16 over their last five games.
Anderson and Hunter are two of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL on the defensive line even when Houston declines to bring extra pressure.
This is bad news for a Chargers team whose offensive line is clearly their greatest weakness. Los Angeles has allowed the fourth-most sacks (51) out of any team in the NFL this season.
Although they found a semblance of consistency when Salyer was subbed in at left tackle, his absence will likely leave the struggling Bobby Hart with the start in his place. This would leave Trey Pipkins, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, matched up against Anderson and Hart matched up against Hunter.
The Chargers have already clinched a playoff berth. Any chance they have at advancing relies upon Herbert continuing his superhuman performances. He suffered a broken hand in Week 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders and continues to show certain limitations as a result, although he has not avoided scrambling and physical play over the past couple of weeks.
Los Angeles's ability to protect Herbert, therefore, will be absolutely paramount over the next two weeks. While a shot at stealing the division from the Broncos is certainly enticing, they cannot allow Herbert to take excessive and unnecessary punishment.
Unfortunately, this might prove to be unavoidable against the Texans' pass rush.