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 bleak early on for the Texans, who fumbled on their first offensive 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.
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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.
Another Fairbairn field goal followed before the Texans went 20-6 up when Murray scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard interception return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was picked off again on the next drive when Stingley grabbed a pass that was tipped off tight end Will Dissly, setting up another Fairbairn field goal.
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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 time such a play has been made in NFL post-season history.
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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Mixon: Everybody counted us out
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon: “It took a team effort. It took all 54 of us. Everybody played a part, from the practice squad too.
“Everybody here, we showed up to work and we showed out. Everybody counted us out and we just put our head down and got to work, and got the dub.”
‘Result goes against everything’
Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter:
“This result has gone against everything. Herbert is one of the cleanest quarterbacks in the game in terms of interceptions, but tonight he’s thrown more than he had done all season.
“That’s what the playoffs do to you – big stages, 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 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.
