Chargers vs. Texans: 5 takeaways from LA's loss in Week 9

The Chargers are 0-8 after being thoroughly drubbed by the Texans by a final score of 44-22. Here's what to take away from the latest embarrassing loss by LA. Where are the answers? Offensively, the Chargers continued to look completely lost. Moving coordinator Mike McDaniel to the booth did little to boost the worst offense in the league, and Los Angeles still looked like a team with no consideration of the details on Sunday. Tre' Harris and Oronde Gadsden II dropped passes in the first quarter. Justin Herbert threw an interception into double coverage (it was at least on a downfield shot). Keaton Mitchell dropped a carry and kicked it forward to negate a 50-yard connection between Herbert and Lambert-Smith in the second half. The Chargers' special teams had three players with an opportunity to recover a muffed punt and instead kicked the ball back into the arms of Texans punt returner Tank Dell. Even with Donte Jackson back from a hamstring injury, LA gave up 10.3 yards per pass before Stroud sat down, with Jackson frequently the culprit. Offensive line looks worse than ever After Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins put him on his back and chest, right guard Cole Strange was mercifully benched on Sunday, replaced by Branson Taylor, then rookie Alex Harkey. Rookie center Jake Slaughter continued to struggle and has remained unable to find defenders in space on the myriad of screens the Chargers run. Slide protection calls resulted in Charlie Kolar one-on-one with Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., then tight end/fullback Scott Matlock on Jadeveon Clowney. Herbert was sacked eight times and did not finish the game because of a left-hand injury and the game state. The tip of Jim Harbaugh's spear is dull, as it has been essentially since the Chargers drafted Joe Alt in 2024. Defense gets dunked on 41 points are the most the Harbaugh-coached Chargers have ever given up, and it came in a game where Houston was able to muster only 104 rushing yards on 3.7 yards per carry on the day. But Texans quarterback CJ Stroud threw for 384 yards and 5 touchdowns, including an acrobatic contested catch by star receiver Nico Collins. Dell burned Jackson on an out-and-up down the right sideline for a 63-yard touchdown, his first score since returning from a career-threatening knee injury 22 months ago. Stroud hit Kayshon Boutte over the middle for another 63-yard touchdown, where Boutte tightroped down the sideline and safety Genesis Smith made a not-so-aggressive effort to push him out of bounds. Houston scored a touchdown in all four quarters and averaged 8 yards a play before backup quarterback Davis Mills came into the game. Trade deadline looming National reporting all week indicated that the Chargers were turning down trade calls unequivocally heading into this week, citing their belief that they can turn this season around. With the deadline coming up on Tuesday, attention will now turn to general manager Joe Hortiz as Los Angeles evaluates whether they still believe that. With the dearth of ascending talent at almost every level of the roster, however, it seems foolish not to entertain trading at least one veteran piece, whether that's edge rusher Khalil Mack, Jackson, or defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who are all on expiring contracts, to accrue a few more bites at the apple in the draft. At 0-8, what's left to salvage this season? Here's Jeremiah Smith's statline As the season creeps into November and the Chargers continue to hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, it seems fitting to provide fans with an update on superstar Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith until Los Angeles is able to squeak out a win. Smith led the Buckeyes with 7 receptions for 133 yards and a 13-yard touchdown catch in a 41-28 loss to No. 23 Oregon on Saturday despite Ohio State playing with backup quarterback Luke Fahey, a true freshman. Smith, should he end up in powder blue next April, should be used to the Chargers' brand of football when he arrives: the Buckeyes allowed 38 unanswered points after taking a 14-0 lead, a run broken by Smith's touchdown catch.