An inspired 38-yard performance from CJ Stroud and Eric Murray propelled the Houston Texans into the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card weekend.
Stroud lit himself up and brought the beaten Texans back to life at the end of an error-strewn first half when he saved a fumbled snap, starting 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 a struggling Chargers team, who saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and be sacked four times.
Herbert had thrown just three interceptions in the entire regular season and had never thrown more than two in any 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 stunning 86-yard touchdown run threatened to spark a fight for the Chargers late in the fourth quarter, but their hopes were dashed when Cameron Decker's attempt for an extra point was blocked and turned back for two points by Texans cornerback D'Angelo Ross.
Statistics leaders
Los Angeles Chargers
- Scrolling: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TDs, 4 INTs
- haste: JK Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Receiving: Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
Houston Texas
- Scrolling: C.J. Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
- haste: Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
CJ Stroud threw for one touchdown and 282 yards for the Houston Texans
Things looked bleak early for the Texans, who stumbled on their first offensive play and lost 6-0 with a minute to go in the first half after two unanswered Decker field goals.
Dean 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 defense took control of the first half.
Stroud finally got something going for the Texans, a timely 34-yard gain after he fumbled the snap that proved 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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CJ Stroud hands the ball off as he throws to Nico Collins for a touchdown after an incredible play by the quarterback.
With Kayme Fairbairn adding a 41-yard field goal, Houston took a 10-6 lead out of nowhere before halftime 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 interception return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was picked off again on the next drive when Stingley caught a deflected pass from tight end Will Dissly, setting up another Fairburn field goal.
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Houston Texans extend their lead against the Los Angeles Chargers as Justin Herbert throws a pick six.
He found Herbert McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown reception to cut the Chargers' deficit to 23-12 in the fourth quarter, but Decker's extra point attempt was blocked and Ross returned it to make it 25-12.
Stingley intercepted Herbert again late in the fourth quarter on a night to forget for the Chargers' quarterback before Mixon's 17-yard touchdown run extended Houston's advantage to 32-12 with four minutes left.
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Justin Herbert threw for 86 yards but the Houston Texans blocked the extra point and came back for two!
Mixon: Everyone counted us
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon: “It took a team effort. It took all 54 of us. Everyone played a role, from the coaching staff as well.”
“Everyone here, we showed up to work and showed it. We counted everyone out and put our heads down and got to work, and we got the dub.”
The Houston Texans are celebrating their pick six
“The result contradicts everything.”
Phoebe Scheckter from Sky Sports NFL:
“This result goes against everything. Herbert is one of the cleanest quarterbacks 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, the big stages and the big moments.”
What's next?
The Texans will now advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, with their most likely opponents being the back-to-back Super Bowl champions and top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Wild Card weekend continues Sunday night when the Buffalo Bills host the Denver Broncos from 6 p.m., followed by the Green Bay Packers vs. the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Monday night, Sam Darnold's Minnesota Vikings will take on the Los Angeles Rams, with kickoff at 1 a.m. in the early hours of Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
