An inspired performance by CJ Stroud and Eric Murray’s 38-yard six saw the Houston Texans roar into the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs with a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card over the weekend.
Stroud sparked himself and the depleted Texans late in a fumble-laden first half when he recovered a fumbled snap, starting a drive that would end with him throwing a touchdown to Nico Collins.
The Texans would go on to score 23 unanswered points against the struggling Chargers, which saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and be sacked four times.
Herbert had thrown just three interceptions the entire regular season and had never thrown more than two in a game before facing a Texans secondary led by cornerback Derek Stingley, who had two interceptions. Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the other option.
Ladd McConkey’s incredible 86-yard touchdown run threatened to spark a Chargers rally late in the fourth quarter, but their hopes were dashed when Cameron Dicker’s extra point attempt was blocked and returned for two points by Texans cornerback D’Angelo Ross .
The leaders of statistics
Los Angeles Chargers
- Passage: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TDs, 4 INTs
- Rush: JK Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Download: Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
Houston Texans
- Passage: CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Rush: Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Download: Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
CJ Stroud threw for a touchdown and 282 yards for the Houston Texans
Things looked bleak early for the Texans, who went on their first offensive play and fell behind 6-0 with a minute left in the first half after two unanswered goals by Dicker.
Deane Leonard intercepted Stroud early in the second quarter, but Lassiter picked off Herbert on the next play to give Houston the ball back as defenses dominated the first half.
Stroud finally got something going for the Texans, a timely 34-yard gain after fumbling the snap that proved to be the game’s turning point as he capped a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard pass to Collins.
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CJ Stroud settles as he throws to Nico Collins for a touchdown after an incredible play by the quarterback.
With Ka’imi Fairbairn adding a 41-yard field goal, Houston took a 10-6 lead out of nowhere at the intermission and was a catalyst for what was to come.
Another Fairbairn field goal followed before the Texans took a 20-6 lead when Murray scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard punt return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was picked off again on the next drive when Stingley scooped up a dropped pass from Will Dissly, setting up another Fairbairn field goal.
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The Houston Texans extend their lead over the Los Angeles Chargers as Justin Herbert throws a pick six.
Herbert found McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown reception to cut the Chargers’ deficit to 23-12 in the fourth quarter, but Dicker’s extra point attempt was blocked and returned by Ross to make it 25-12. It was the first such play in NFL postseason history.
Stingley intercepted Herbert again late in the fourth quarter in a night to forget for the Chargers quarterback, before Mixon’s 17-yard run extended Houston’s lead to an unassailable 32-12 with four minutes left.
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Justin Herbert throws for an 86-yard touchdown, but the Houston Texans block the extra point and punt back for two!
Mixon: They all counted us out
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon: “It took a team effort. It took all 54. Everyone played a part, including the coaching staff.
“Everyone here, we showed up to work and showed up. Everyone counted us out and we just put our heads down and got to work and got the dub.”
The Houston Texans celebrate pick six
“The result contradicts everything”
Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter:
“This result has gone against everything. Herbert is one of the cleanest backs in the game in terms of interceptions, but he threw more tonight than he has all season.
“That’s what the playoffs do to you – big scenes, big moments.”
What next?
The Texans will now advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, where their most likely opponents are the nearby defending Super Bowl champion and No. 1-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Wild Card weekend continues Sunday afternoon when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos at 6 p.m., followed by the Green Bay Packers vs. the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Then on Monday night, Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams, starting at 1 a.m. in the early hours of Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
