An inspired 38-yard field goal performance by CJ 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 sparked himself and the subdued Texans into life late in a mistake-riddled first half when he recovered a fumble, setting off 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 Chargers, which saw quarterback Justin Herbert throw four interceptions and sack four times.
Herbert had thrown just three interceptions 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 field goal threatened to spark a Chargers comeback 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 the Texans cornerback D’Angelo Ross.
Statistics managers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Passage: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs
- In a hurry: JK Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
- Taking: Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
Houston Texas
- Passage: CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- In a hurry: Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Taking: 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 behind two unanswered goals by 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 spurning what proved to be the turning point of the game while capping a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard pass to Collins.
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CJ Stroud throws to Nico Collins for a touchdown after a tremendous play by the quarterback.
With Ka’imi Fairbairn adding a 41-yard field goal, Houston took a 10-6 lead out of nowhere at intermission and a 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 punt return late in the third quarter.
Herbert was picked off again on the next drive when Stingley scooped up a pass that was broken up by 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 six.
Herbert found McConkey for an 86-yard 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 postseason history.
Stingley intercepted Herbert again late in the fourth quarter on a night to forget about the Chargers quarterback before a 17-yard run by Mixon extended Houston’s lead to an unassailable 32-12 with four minutes to go.
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Justin Herbert kicks for an 86-yard touchdown, but the Houston Texans block the extra point and successfully return for two!
Mixon: Everyone counted us out
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon: “It took a team effort. It took all 54 of us. Everyone played a part, even from the training squad.
“Everyone here, we showed up to work and showed up. Everyone counted us in and we just put our heads down and went to work and got the dub.”
The Houston Texans celebrate the sixth pick
“The result goes against everything”
Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter:
“This result went against everything. Herbert is one of the purest quarterbacks in the game in terms of tackles, 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 will now move on 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 on 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.
Monday night then sees Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings take on the Los Angeles Rams, kick-off at 1am in the early hours of Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.
