The Chargers are 11-5 after Saturday's 20-16 home loss against the Texans.
Here are five takeaways from Week 17.
1. Chargers look toward Week 18
The Chargers chances for an AFC West title slipped away Saturday night.
The Bolts needed to win their final two games in order to claim the division, but a Week 17 Chargers loss handed the AFC West to the Broncos.
Players in the postgame locker room rued the opportunity to play for a division crown in Denver, but said the ultimate achievement is still attainable.
"Definitely leaves a bad taste in our mouth, but at the end of the day our end goal is still out there, winning that Super Bowl," Derwin James, Jr. said.
Khalil Mack added: "That was the goal this year, to come out and win the AFC West. But we're still in the right race."
Veteran Donte Jackson also summed up the vibes heading into the regular-season finale.
"One day don't go your way, you just don't lose championship aspirations," Jackson said. "You just don't lose all championship swagger, elite defense or what we think of ourselves.
"We still have it, we just know that this time of the year the road is smaller," Jackson added. "It's like 14 teams trying to ride on the same road with only a couple lanes. Just to get a spot this time of the year is tough."
Saturday's loss means the Bolts will be a Wild Card team in the playoffs.
And while the Chargers playoff seed scenarios are numerous, the Bolts will either be the Nos. 5, 6 of 7 seed in the opening round of the postseason.
Week 17 was a frustrating one for the Chargers, who couldn't complete a late rally against a fellow AFC playoff contender. Houston secured a postseason spot with its win Saturday night.
Down by double digits early, the Bolts pulled to within one score late in the fourth quarter, leading Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to praise his team's resiliency after the game.
"Evey time I see our team take the field, I see a team committed to winning. We didn't win today, but at no point — never, never, never — did we say, 'No más,'" Harbaugh said. "Some things to clean up before the playoffs but we'll use that … things today to get better tomorrow."
Daiyan Henley added: "I feel like we battled. But although we battled, we all just didn't do enough right. You know, it's a team sport. We've got to do more. As much as we hate to lose, I'd rather do it now than later. Now it's time to get on a run and let's go."
2. Slow start hurts Bolts
In a game featuring two of the league's best defenses, it felt as if Saturday's matchup would go the way of the team who reached 20 points first.
It didn't help that Houston had 14 points on the scoreboard less than six minutes into the game.
"Can't start the game like that spotting 14 points. Got to be better in that aspect," James said.
Harbaugh added: "Definitely didn't get off to the start we wanted."
Houston hit a 75-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game for an early lead.
Then, after the Chargers offense went three-and-out, the Texans offense struck again with a 43-yard strike for another score.
Chargers defensive backs pointed to communication issues as the reason for the mishaps.
"Just coverage busts, something that can't happen," Jackson said. "Completely on us, completely on the secondary. We can't do that.
"That's what the playoffs are going to be like, they're going to be two really good teams banging it out and the team that gives the most usually loses. That's what we did today," Jackson added.
James said: "Simple missed communication, not communicating all the way. On us in the secondary, we got to get that fixed."
The explosive plays allowed were a rarity for a Chargers defense that had been great in preventing them all season.
The Bolts had allowed two passing scores of 30-plus air yards through the first 15 games before allowing two against Houston. The Chargers had also given up just 14 passing touchdowns all season entering Saturday.
"Just communication," Henley said. "Echoing the call, making sure it gets across the board. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not. It's football, how it happens."
The Bolts followed with another punt on offense in a dismal first quarter that saw them get outgained 171 to 15 in total yards, including minus-2 net passing yards.
3. Defense bounces back
The rest of the game? The Chargers defense looked like their usual selves.
James and Elijah Molden each had interceptions for the Bolts, who allowed only six points the rest of the way.
In fact, the longest drive the Chargers allowed the rest of the way was just 34 yards.
"We know we're a championship defense. Bouncing back is nothing for us, it's really just knowing that we can't start like that," Jackson said. "We're a championship defense so we knew we would bounce back. Not a feather was ruffled when they did go up big on us. We just got to be better."
Mack added: "It wasn't no surprise to us. We just communicated a lot better, everybody was on the same page."
The Chargers allowed just 205 yards on 10 total drives — excluding a knee down at the end of the first half — against the Texans the rest of the way.
Houston was only 3-of-11 on third downs for the entire game.
Harbaugh noted he was proud of the defense for keeping the Bolts in the game after the pair of allowed touchdowns.
"I don't want our team to change at all. They just keep competing," Harbaugh said.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium!
DB Deane Leonard (33)
DB Deane Leonard (33)
DB Deane Leonard (33)
DB Deane Leonard (33)
DB Deane Leonard (33)
CB Nikko Reed (46) and DB Deane Leonard (33)
CB Nikko Reed (46) and DB Deane Leonard (33)
DB Deane Leonard (33) and CB Nikko Reed (46)
S Kendall Williamson (40) and DB Deane Leonard (33)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Teair Tart (90) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Bud Dupree (48) and DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
DL Teair Tart (90)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Teair Tart (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Daiyan Henley (0) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Daiyan Henley (0), LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and DL Teair Tart (90)
LB Daiyan Henley (0) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Daiyan Henley (0) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
OLB Odafe Oweh (98) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
WR Tre Harris (9), WR Ladd McConkey (15), RB Omarion Hampton (8), QB Justin Herbert (10) and T Trey Pipkins III (79)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Cam Hart (20) and S Marcus Williams (31)
S Marcus Williams (31)
S Marcus Williams (31)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DL Teair Tart (90) and S Marcus Williams (31)
OLB Bud Dupree (48), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20), DL Da'Shawn Hand (91) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20), DL Da'Shawn Hand (91) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
CB Cam Hart (20), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
T Trey Pipkins III (79) and C Andre James (78)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Marcus Williams (31)
CB Tarheeb Still (29), S Marcus Williams (31) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
CB Tarheeb Still (29) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23), LB Daiyan Henley (0) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91) and LB Troy Dye (43)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
TE Will Dissly (89)
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
2025 Corgi Cup at Chargers vs. Texans Week 17 Matchup
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
DL Otito Ogbonnia (93) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
DL Otito Ogbonnia (93)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
RB Jaret Patterson (32)
RB Jaret Patterson (32)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Will Dissly (89)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Daiyan Henley (0) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
LB Daiyan Henley (0), CB Tarheeb Still (29) and OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
CB Tarheeb Still (29) and CB Cam Hart (20)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
TE Will Dissly (89)
TE Will Dissly (89)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Will Dissly (89)
OL Austin Deculus (74), RB Jaret Patterson (32), WR Tre Harris (9), WR Ladd McConkey (15), TE Oronde Gadsden (86), T Trey Pipkins III (79) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and G Mekhi Becton (73)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and G Mekhi Becton (73)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
4. Offense can't finish in red zone
The Chargers offense certainly had their chances Saturday.
Especially late in the first half.
But the Bolts finished just 2-of-5 in the red zone against the Texans, missing out on key points that perhaps would have swung a close game the other way.
"We missed a couple opportunities there," Harbaugh said.
The frustrations were amplified in the final portion of the second quarter.
After James' interception set the offense up at the Houston 37-yard line, the Chargers managed just a field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3.
On the Bolts next drive, a 60-yard completion from Justin Herbert to Quentin Johnston put the offense back inside the 20-yard line.
But the unit came away empty-handed as Herbert's pass for Oronde Gadsden hit off the rookie's hands and was intercepted at the 1-yard line.
Then, Molden snagged his interception and put the offense at Houston's 32 with just 45 seconds left before halftime.
But the Chargers once again came away with no points as Cameron Dicker's 32-yard try was wide right, putting the Bolts at 0-for-3 in the red zone in the first half.
"Just have to execute. We have to be able to convert on those third downs down there and have to score points. We got our opportunities but it's on us to be able to execute those plays we put in and game plan for," Herbert said.
The Chargers scored on both of their red-zone possession in the second half as Gadsden caught a 1-yard touchdown and Omarion Hampton scored on a 5-yard run.
But the missed chances early on made a difference in a close game against a strong opponent.
"Definitely a tough loss. A lot of mistakes were made," Gadsden said. "We just got to look back on the film and patch them up the best we can and work on the things that we weren't good at."
Check out the top photos of the Bolts warming up for their Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium!
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
WR Keenan Allen (13)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OL Jamaree Salyer (68), T Bobby Hart (66), LS Josh Harris (47) and P JK Scott (16)
WR Keenan Allen (13), WR Tre Harris (9), QB Trey Lance (5) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
LS Josh Harris (47)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LS Josh Harris (47)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
RB Kimani Vidal (30)
G Zion Johnson (77)
G Zion Johnson (77)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
OL Foster Sarell (67)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Nick Hardwick, Offensive Assistant Kirk Campbell and Offensive Line Coach Mike Devlin
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
OL Foster Sarell (67)
OL Foster Sarell (67)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Derius Davis (12)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
LS Josh Harris (47)
LS Josh Harris (47)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Derius Davis (12) and WR Tre Harris (9)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter
LS Josh Harris (47)
P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
RB Hassan Haskins (28) and WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
RB Jaret Patterson (32)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
DL Scott Matlock (44), TE Oronde Gadsden (86), TE Tyler Conklin (83), TE Tucker Fisk (42) and TE Will Dissly (89)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Tre Harris (9)
DL Scott Matlock (44) and TE Will Dissly (89)
DL Scott Matlock (44)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
DB Deane Leonard (33), S Derwin James Jr. (3), S Marcus Williams (31), S Tony Jefferson (23) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S Marcus Williams (31), CB Nikko Reed (46), S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Tarheeb Still (29) and Defensive Backs Coach Steve Clinkscale
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and S Marcus Williams (31)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), CB Nikko Reed (46), DB Elijah Molden (2), DB Deane Leonard (33), S Marcus Williams (31), S Kendall Williamson (40), S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20), CB Donte Jackson (26) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), CB Nikko Reed (46), DB Elijah Molden (2), DB Deane Leonard (33), S Marcus Williams (31), S Kendall Williamson (40), S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20), CB Donte Jackson (26) and CB Tarheeb Still (29)
T Bobby Hart (66)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
T Trey Pipkins III (79)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Troy Dye (43)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Teair Tart (90)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91), G Mekhi Becton (73) and T Trey Pipkins III (79)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Bud Dupree (48), S Derwin James Jr. (3) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
LB Daiyan Henley (0), LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53), LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Tarheeb Still (29)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Marcus Williams (31)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
Defensive Backs Coach Steve Clinkscale
Defensive Backs Coach Steve Clinkscale
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and DL Teair Tart (90)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and DL Teair Tart (90)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Odafe Oweh (98)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
K Cameron Dicker (11), P JK Scott (16) and LS Josh Harris (47)
K Cameron Dicker (11), P JK Scott (16) and LS Josh Harris (47)
P JK Scott (16), K Cameron Dicker (11) and LS Josh Harris (47)
C Andre James (78), QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Jaret Patterson (32)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
DB Elijah Molden (2) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Teair Tart (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Da'Shawn Hand (91)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
WR Tre Harris (9) and Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken
RB Jaret Patterson (32) and Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken
WR Keenan Allen (13)
5. Special teams struggles
It was an uncharacteristic day for the Chargers on special teams.
Dicker hadn't missed inside of 40 yards in his entire career before he pulled his 32-yard try wide in the second quarter.
The Chargers kicker, who was named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, then missed an extra point wide left with under four minutes to go.
The missed extra point kept the score at 20-16 instead of pulling the Bolts to within a field goal.
"Life, you know? It happens," Dicker said postgame. "Bummer to miss those and miss those opportunities ... I get another chance to kick next week and we'll go from there."
Dicker, who has now made 37 of 40 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points on the year, said he received plenty of support in the postgame locker room.
"At the end of the day, knowing that I'm loved regardless of what happens is huge," Dicker said. "I've got guys in this locker room that love me no matter what's going on in life.
"The same love we show each other when everything is good is the same love we show each other when things are bad, right? Having those guys around you to pick you up in life, that's what it's all about," Dicker added.
The Chargers were also hampered by a pair of poor punts from JK Scott in the second half.
Down 14-3 a few minutes into the third quarter, Scott produced a 22-yard punt that put Houston's offense at the Chargers 47.
The Texans drove 24 yards in seven plays before adding to their lead with a 41-yard field goal.
Scott later had a 34-yard punt in the fourth quarter that allowed Houston to start from its own 45.
The Texans went 29 yards in seven plays this time but it was enough to get in field goal range as Houston went up 20-10 after a 44-yard make.
"Just things to clean up. We know what we're capable of. I think it was just off a little bit," Harbaugh said of the special teams performance.
