The Chargers are looking to pick up their first win of the season as they face the Texans on Sunday afternoon.

Here are five key storylines ahead of the Week 9 matchup.

The search for their first win

The Chargers enter Week 9 with a disastrous 0-7 record and as the NFL's only winless team. Coming out of their Week 7 bye, any hoped-for adjustments sputtered in a 24-9 loss to the Rams. Hosting a 2-5 Texans team that has been inconsistent gives them one of the cleaner shots they’ve had all year to finally get in the win column.

Justin Herbert protecting the football

Quarterback Herbert has thrown ten interceptions against just five touchdowns through seven games, with a career-low 61.8 completion percentage and a 69.3 passer rating. He leads the NFL in picks. Against a Texans pass rush featuring Will Anderson Jr. (tied for the league lead with 7.5 sacks) and Danielle Hunter, ball security is non-negotiable. There were small positive signs last week, as he posted a season-high 75% completion rate and 8.0 yards per attempt, but the turnovers have to stop for the offense to function.

Offensive line against the Texans' front

The Chargers’ offensive line has been decimated. Rashawn Slater, Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning, and Trey Pipkins have all spent significant time on injured reserve or the sideline, forcing rookies into major roles. Awosika, who has missed five games with a fibula injury, was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Getting him back at left guard would help. Herbert has already been sacked 23 times. Houston’s defensive line has been productive at generating pressure, so how this group holds up will likely decide whether the Chargers can move the ball.

Mike McDaniel calling plays from the booth

After another quiet offensive showing, coordinator Mike McDaniel announced that he will move from the sideline to the coaches’ box to call plays. McDaniel last worked from the booth in 2021 as the 49ers’ OC and said he wants the wider view of all 22 players so he can better spot adjustments and communicate with position coaches between series. He trusts the rest of the offensive staff to handle the sideline energy. The Chargers are averaging 14.1 points per game (last in the NFL) and are in a long scoring drought.

Can the real ground game please stand up?

Through seven games, the Chargers are averaging 111.1 rushing yards per game, ranking 18th in the NFL. The unit has found the end zone only four times on the ground all season. Coming out of their bye week, the Bolts were held to just 64 rushing yards on 2.6 yards per carry in a loss to the Rams. Overall, they possess a measly 32.4% rushing success rate, which ranks 30th in the league. Second-year Omarion Hampton is expected to get more touches after his role has steadily declined into a three-back committee alongside Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell. In the Texans' last game against the Giants, they allowed 188 rushing yards.