A 38-yard pick-six performance by C.J. Stroud and Eric Murray saw the Houston Texans roar into the divisional round of the NFL playoffs with a 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card weekend.
Stroud brought life to himself and the subdued Texans late in an error-filled first half when he recovered a fumble to set off a drive that would end with a touchdown to Nico Collins.
The Texans went on to score 23 unanswered points against the underdog Chargers, who saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and be sacked four times.
Herbert had thrown just three interceptions all regular season and had never thrown more than two in a game before facing the Texans, led by cornerback Derek Stingley, who had two interceptions.Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the other pick.
Ladd McConkey’s improbable 86-yard field goal threatened to spark a charge against the Chargers 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.
Statistics leaders
Los Angeles Chargers
- Transition. Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
- In a hurry. JK Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Receiving. Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
Houston Texas
- Passing by. CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- In a hurry. Joe Mixon, 25, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Getting. Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
CJ Stroud threw for one touchdown and 282 yards for the Houston Texans
Things looked bleak for the Texans, who fumbled on their first offensive play and fell behind 6-0 after two unanswered Dickers’ field goals with a minute left in the first half.
Dean Leonard intercepted Stroud early in the second quarter, but Lassiter sacked 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 game’s turning point when he capped a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard pass to Collins.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
CJ Stroud commits as he throws to Nico Collins for a touchdown after an unbelievable play by the quarterback.
When Ka’imi Fairbairn added a 41-yard field goal, Houston took a 10-6 lead out of nowhere at halftime and the catalyst for what was to come.
Another Fairbairn field goal followed before the Texans went up 20-6 when Murray scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard interception return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was sacked again on the next drive when Stingley intercepted a pass to Will Disley to set up another Fairbairn score.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Houston Texans extend their lead against the Los Angeles Chargers as Justin Herbert throws 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 in the fourth quarter on a night of forgetting the Chargers quarterback until Mixon’s 17-yard run extended Houston’s lead to an unassailable 32-12 with four minutes to go.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Justin Herbert throws 86 yards for a touchdown, but the Houston Texans block the extra point and return it for two.
Mixon: Everyone counted us out
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon. “It required a team effort, they took all 54 of us.
“Everyone here, we showed up to work and showed up. Everyone counted us out and we just put our heads down and went to work and got the backup.”
The Houston Texans celebrate six
“The result contradicts everything”
Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter.
“This result defies everything. Herbert is one of the cleanest defenders 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 stages, big moments.”
What next?
The Texans now advance to the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend, where their most likely opponents are the defending Super Bowl champion and No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs.
Wild Card weekend continues Sunday night 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. in:
Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, kick-off at 1am on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
