An inspired performance from CJ Stroud and Eric Murray’s 38-yard pick six saw the Houston Texans launch into the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in of the Wild Card weekend.
Stroud woke up, along with the submissive Texans, at the end of an error-strewn first half when he recovered a fumble snap, initiating a drive that would end with a touchdown pass to Nico Collins.
The Texans went on to score 23 unanswered points against the struggling Chargers, who saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and sacks 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 Texas secondary led by cornerback Derek Stingley, who had thrown two interceptions. Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the other choice.
Ladd McConkey’s incredible 86-yard touchdown run threatened to spark a Chargers fightback late in the fourth quarter, but their hopes dashed when Cameron Dicker’s extra point attempt was blocked and returned for two points by the Texans cornerback D’Angelo Ross.
Statistics leaders
Los Angeles Chargers
- Passage: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
- Rushing : JK Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Reception : Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
Houston Texans
- Passage: CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing : Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Reception : Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
Things looked bleak early for the Texans, who fumbled on their first offensive play and trailed 6-0 with a minute left in the first half after two unanswered goals from 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 missing the snap, proving the turning point of the game as he ended a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass in Collins.
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CJ Stroud delivers by throwing to Nico Collins for a touchdown after an incredible play by the quarterback.
With Ka’imi Fairbairn adding a 41-yard field goal, Houston had a 10-6 lead out of nowhere before the interval and a catalyst for what was to come.
Another Fairbairn field goal followed before the Texans led 20-6 when Murray scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard interception return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was picked off on the next drive when Stingley caught a pass that was flagged to tight end Will Dissly, setting up another Fairbairn field goal.
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The Houston Texans extend their lead against the Los Angeles Chargers as Justin Herbert throws a pick six.
Herbert found McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown 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 the score 25-12. It was the first time such a play had been made in NFL playoff history.
Stingley intercepted Herbert again late in the fourth quarter, a night to forget for the Chargers quarterback before a 17-yard run by Mixon extended Houston’s advantage to an unassailable 32-12 at four minutes of the end.
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Justin Herbert throws an 86-yard touchdown but the Houston Texans block the extra point and manage to come back for two!
Mixon: Everyone excluded us
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon: “It took a team effort. It took all 54 of us. Everyone played a role, from the practice squad as well.
“Everybody here, we showed up for work and we introduced ourselves. Everybody counted us out and we just put our heads down and got to work and got the dub.”
The Houston Texans celebrate their sixth pick
“The result goes against everything”
Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter:
“This result flies in the face of everything. Herbert is one of the cleanest quarterbacks in the game in terms of interceptions, but tonight he threw more than he had all season.
“That’s what the playoffs do to you: big scenes, big moments.”
And then?
The Texans will now advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, where their most likely opponents will be the defending Super Bowl champion and the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs.
Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday night when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos starting at 6 p.m., followed by the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Monday night, Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings will face the Los Angeles Rams, with kickoff at 1 a.m. Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
