# Texans vs Chargers predictions, graded

Week 9, 2026: Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers

Nov 8, 2026 · final: Texans 44, Chargers 22 · 22 calls on record · updated Nov 9, 11:50 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Texans vs Chargers? Of 15 pundits with a call on record, all 15 take the Texans. 8 named a score; the median has the Texans by 12.5. The Texans won 44-22, so 15 of 15 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 84 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 3 Texans
- [Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/chris-simms-unbuttoned-podcast): all 2 Texans
- [Fox Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports): all 2 Texans
- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 2 Texans
- [The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-richard-sherman-podcast-podcast): all 2 Texans

The other 4 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 4 Texans.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-9-texans-at-chargers

Picks:

- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Texans, Texans 19–Chargers 16; said Nov 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 54.76 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc
- [Jared Koch](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-koch) took the Texans; said Nov 7, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e2861ce9-d1de-4f34-b001-83e64c3f5770
- [Connor Rogers](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/connor-rogers) took the Texans; said Nov 6, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11646f69-18dd-4831-a7de-e4115ded875c
- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Texans, Texans 27–Chargers 13; said Nov 6, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 80.95 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/17eb747a-90b1-472f-bb6d-e71c0c69133a
- [Nick Wright](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright) took the Texans, Texans 27–Chargers 12; said Nov 6, 2026; on What's Wright? with Nick Wright (podcast); scored 83.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14c1f8dd-d8ff-498f-b705-4b468ff964f8
- [John Shipley](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-shipley) took the Texans; said Nov 6, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1c3cc043-b892-4670-b2d9-2fd2721fd419
- [Steve Palazzolo](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/steve-palazzolo) took the Texans; said Nov 5, 2026; on Check the Mic (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4905cf14-f779-466a-b936-019c858333f3
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Texans, Texans 24–Chargers 20; said Nov 5, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 57.14 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/996c66be-26d8-4d94-b0c8-ee534760354a
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Chargers; said Nov 5, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b01bc807-6ff9-460f-8ab3-c7506b54effb
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Texans, Texans 21–Chargers 10; said Nov 4, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 73.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/97d44ed7-e136-4f44-babc-78b1d8d020ad
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Texans, Texans 27–Chargers 13; said Nov 4, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 80.95 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6a1c5f64-cb1f-4e3d-846c-281720efb544
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Texans, Texans 19–Chargers 16; said Nov 4, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 54.76 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d8e27e7e-02bf-4e11-80fb-5acc8a9c7b4b
- [Jared Koch](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-koch) took the Texans; said Nov 3, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/43448c58-5e8e-4e8b-953d-6072c25fe54e
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Texans, Texans 27–Chargers 16; said Nov 3, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 73.81 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65a6175d-de99-40b2-8ead-dbf2c30f20e6
- [Jared Koch](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-koch) took the Texans, Texans 28–Chargers 13; said Oct 28, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 83.33 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e4092761-b339-447d-9bcb-716a6b4db555
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Texans; said Oct 28, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/01588b84-4ffa-49e4-87f6-a4537ede33bd
- [John Shipley](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-shipley) took the Texans; said Oct 19, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/61edf45d-3e62-44e1-be5b-57ea12609e6c
- [Henry McKenna](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/henry-mckenna) took the Texans; said Oct 19, 2026; on Fox Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4177e758-4537-4e54-8e83-12cf4137fd5a
- [Ralph Vacchiano](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ralph-vacchiano) took the Texans; said Oct 8, 2026; on Fox Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2aa2adac-cde3-456b-a0be-e3e030c633a3
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Texans; said Sep 28, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b9868de6-ac6f-4b28-a68c-6541371eb633
- [Jason McIntyre](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jason-mcintyre) took the Texans; said Jul 31, 2026; on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5e024e05-f4e7-4da1-b1b2-aca0833909c7
- [John Granato](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-granato) took the Texans; said May 19, 2026; on John and Lance — ESPN Houston (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90fd3c9e-7281-40ec-be9b-f741f1f476b0

## How they came in

The Texans are 2-5; the Chargers are 0-7 and have lost 7 straight. On win totals, 20 pundits put the Texans at 10.2 wins on average, and 13 pundits put the Chargers at 8.1 wins on average.

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

- Houston Texans: 2-5 (165 scored, 170 allowed)
  - Last games: L 21-27 vs Giants; W 34-31 at Jaguars; W 26-3 at Titans
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 7th, defense 10th of 32
  - Last season: 12-5
  - Win-total calls: 22 pundits, average 10.2, 1 to 17 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 1 of 7 Texans games
- Los Angeles Chargers: 0-7, lost 7 straight (99 scored, 175 allowed)
  - Last games: L 9-24 at Rams; L 6-22 at Chiefs; L 17-23 vs Broncos
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 32nd, defense 26th of 32
  - Last season: 11-6
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 8.1, 2 to 12 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 5 of 7 Chargers games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [C.J. Stroud](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/c-j-stroud) (Starting QB, QB): 2,251 passing yards · 16 TD, 2 INT · 64.2% completions · 100 rushing yards · 8 games; 7th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Nov 4, 2026: C.J. Stroud: “if he continues his strong play, the Texans will be forced to pay Stroud as one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL” (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Nov 13, 2026: C.J. Stroud: “if he just finishes like this, 65,000,000 a year and the highest paid quarterback” (not settled yet)
- [Woody Marks](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/woody-marks) (RB1, RB): 341 rushing yards on 95 carries · 2 TD · 15 catches for 98 · 8 games; 28th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Nov 11, 2026: Woody Marks to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 12, 2026: Woody Marks to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Nico Collins](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nico-collins) (WR1, WR): 28 catches for 384 yards · 4 TD · 6 games; 42nd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Oct 19, 2026: Nico Collins to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 22, 2026: he played well in Week 1 but wasn't as good on Sunday without Nico Collins, who is expected to miss this Sunday's game against the also-winless Colts (Week 3) (not settled yet)
- [Dalton Schultz](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dalton-schultz) (TE1, TE): 35 catches for 364 yards · 0 TD · 8 games; 47th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 23, 2026: Dalton Schultz to outplay his draft cost (late-round) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 2, 2026: Dalton Schultz to outplay his draft cost (ADP 25) (not settled yet)
- [Will Anderson Jr.](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/will-anderson-jr) (Sack leader, DE): 9.5 sacks · 18 solo tackles · 8 games; 1st in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Will Anderson Jr. to stay with Houston Texans (not settled yet)
  - No. 16 Mike Kadlick, Nov 12, 2026: Will Anderson Jr. to win Defensive Player of the Year (not settled yet)
- [Kamari Lassiter](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kamari-lassiter) (Tackle leader, CB): 1 sack · 32 solo tackles · 8 games; 34th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 1 Jared Koch, Oct 10, 2026: Kamari Lassiter to record 1 interceptions (not settled yet)
- [Justin Herbert](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert) (Starting QB, QB): 1,591 passing yards · 6 TD, 11 INT · 61.3% completions · 190 rushing yards · 8 games; 21st in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Justin Herbert to stay with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 30, 2026: Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost (an ADP of QB9 and is going in the back half of the seventh round) (not settled yet)
- [Omarion Hampton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton) (RB1, RB): 369 rushing yards on 102 carries · 3 TD · 11 catches for 63 · 8 games; 25th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 17, 2026: Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Aug 15, 2026: Omarion Hampton to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Ladd McConkey](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey) (WR1, WR): 17 catches for 286 yards · 1 TD · 6 games; 76th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 6, 2026: Ladd McConkey to move to Pittsburgh Steelers (not settled yet)
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Sep 18, 2026: McConkie's out, and I expect him to be out for the game. (Chargers vs. Raiders, Week 2) (not settled yet)
- [Oronde Gadsden II](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/oronde-gadsden-ii) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 172 yards · 1 TD · 8 games; 135th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to fall short of his draft cost (TE20, Overall RK150 | ECR vs. ADP: -20) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Oronde Gadsden II to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Tuli Tuipulotu](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tuli-tuipulotu) (Sack leader, LB): 3 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 51st in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Oct 29, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to move — “potential trade chip” (not settled yet)
  - No. 40 JP Acosta, Nov 6, 2026: Tuli Tuipulotu to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Chargers (not settled yet)
- [Daiyan Henley](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/daiyan-henley) (Tackle leader, LB): 0.5 sacks · 21 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 140th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Nov 11, 2026: Daiyan Henley to be 3rd on the depth chart (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-9
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology