An inspired performance from CJ Stroud and Eric Murray’s 38-yard pick six saw the Houston Texans roar into the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs with a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card weekend.
Stroud sparked himself and the subdued Texans into life at the end of an error-strewn first half when he salvaged a fumbled snap, initiating a drive that would end with him throwing a touchdown pass to Nico Collins.
The Texans would go on to score 23 unanswered points against the floundering Chargers, who saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and sacked four times.
Herbert had thrown just three interceptions in 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 pick.
Ladd McConkey’s incredible 86-yard touchdown threatened to spark a Chargers fightback late in the fourth quarter, but their hopes fizzled out when Cameron Dicker’s extra-point attempt was blocked and returned for two points by the Texans cornerback D’Angelo Ross.
Stats leaders
Los Angeles Chargers
- Passing: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TDs, 4 INTs
- Rushing: J.K. Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Receiving: Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197yards, 1 TD
Houston Texans
- Passing: CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing: Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
Things looked bad early on for the Texans, who fumbled on their first offense play and were down 6-0 with a minute left in the first half after two unanswered Dicker field goals.
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 the defenses dominated the first half.
Stroud finally got something going for the Texans, a timely 34-yard gain after fumbling the snap proving the game’s turning point as he ended a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Collins.
With Ka’imi Fairbairn adding a 41-yard field goal, Houston had a 10-6 lead out of nowhere heading into the interval and a catalyst for what was to come.
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CJ Stroud delivers as he throws to Nico Collins for a touchdown after an incredible play by the quarterback.
The Texans went 13-6 up when Murray scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard interception return late in the third quarter.
And Herbert was picked off again on the next drive when Stingley grabbed a pass that was tipped off tight end Will Dissly.
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Houston Texans extend their lead against 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.
Stingley intercepted Herbert again late in the fourth quarter on a night to forget for the Chargers quarterback before a 17-yard run by Mixon extended Houston’s advantage to an unassailable 32-12 with four minutes to go.
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Justin Herbert throws for an 86-yard touchdown but the Houston Texans block the extra point and successfully return for two!
‘Herbert didn’t stand a chance’
Sky Sports NFL’s Jason Bell:
“He didn’t stand a chance, not against this defense. Remember, you’ve got so much time to prepare for this game. You watch all the footage from the whole season.
“You’re prepared for this opponent, and when you feel like you’ve got a healthy gameplan, you attack. And early on, you saw that with this defense.”
What next?
The Texans will now advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs next weekend, where their most likely opponents are the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champion and No 1-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Wild Card weekend continues on Sunday evening when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos from 6pm, followed by the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Monday night then sees Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams, with kickoff at 1am in the early hours of Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
