Tag: Chargers Football

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh gives massive praise to Texans defensive line

Jim Harbaugh came away impressed with the Houston Texans’ defensive line and pressure rate following Saturday’s loss.

Many Houston Texans fans were stunned when Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. weren’t sure-fire Pro Bowlers after setting records during the 2024 season.

Apparently, so was Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh following Houston’s 32-12 win in Saturday’s wild-card round.

Anderson, Hunter and a quartet of defensive linemen made life hell for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert at NRG Stadium. Whenever he ran right, there was Hunter.

Whenever he went to the left, there was Anderson.

Even up the middle Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr. forced stops and ill-advised throws to coverage. Herbert finished the after with four interceptions, including one returned for a 38-yard touchdown by Eric Murray.

“[Herbert’s] gotta be able to finish his throwing motion,” Harbaugh told reporters. “We didn’t put him in the position to do that enough. The edge pressure was the best we’ve seen. Pressure on the edge—the pass rush—was outstanding.”

The Texans recorded four sacks and seven tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, Hebert was pressured 11 times through three quarters, five of which were unblocked, resulting in half of the turnovers.

“They did a good job,” Herbert said. “That is on us to be able to execute and handle that. I think we did a poor job of handling the pressure and I have to find the quick outs, throw the ball away and do a better job at protecting the ball.”

Hunter (12.0) and Anderson (11.5) finished top 10 in sacks and tackles for loss. The duo also headlined a defense that recorded a franchise record 49 sacks during the regular season.

Houston hits the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Nico Collins makes Texans’ history in wild-card round win over Chargers

Nico Collins is into the end zone and into the Houston Texans’ history books.

DeAndre Hopkins once surpassed Houston Texans Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson en route to making playoff history.

It was only a matter of time before Nico Collins took up the mantle as the new face of Houston’s postseason.

That moment arrived on Saturday afternoon midway through the fourth quarter.

Collins totaled 122 yards on seven catches, including a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter, as the Texans secured a 32-12 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The yardage total surpassed  Hopkins’ 118 in 2019’s divisional-round collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coincidentally, that happened to be Hopkins’ last game in a Texans uniform before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason.

That won’t be something Houston fans will endure this offseason as Collins and the Texans prepare for their rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round next weekend.

“It’s a blessing,” Collins said of the play. “D-Hop, that boy is special man. Him and (Johnson). So, it’s great to be past that. Them two dudes I still watch ’til this day.”

After a quiet first quarter, Collins exploded to give Houston momentum in the second quarter. After C.J. Stroud found Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard pickup, Collins won his one-on-one battle against Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton in man coverage and propelled his way into Los Angeles’ red zone for a 37-yard gain.

Two plays later, the slant route got the best of Fulton for the touchdown and eventual 7-6 lead.

“That dude right there, he’s really elevated himself as an NFL number one receiver,” Stroud said. “He shows that week in and week out. I’m just so happy for that guy. I think this is just the start for him as well.”

Collins, who inked a three-year, $72.5 million extension before OTAs, was on pace to lead the league in receiving yards after the first five games, but a hamstring injury sidelined him for over a month.

When he returned, the fourth-year pro only totaled one 100-yard outing to close out the regular season. While he managed to surpass 1,000 yards on the campaign, the outcome was different from what fans envisioned after his breakout start.

But Stroud said Collins was “born out the womb great.” Whenever he needed a big-time play, there was the 6-foot-4 star to come up clutch.

“I’m just so happy for that guy and I think this is just the start for him as well,” Stroud said. “He had another 1,000-yard season and he’s still hungry for more. He’s still in here every day working on his body. He’s hungrier than ever.”

Like Stroud, who became the fifth quarterback to win multiple playoff games in their first two seasons, Collins made history.
He wants to make more in the coming weeks with a shot at the Super Bowl in the works.

“I got to continue to go, continue to keep making plays for this team and keep being myself at the end of the day,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s the most important part.”

Instant analysis: Texans notch 4 turnovers, secure 32-12 win over Chargers in wild-card round

The Houston Texans are headed back to the AFC Divisional Round following a wild-card round win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Rex Ryan might have been on a break.

The Houston Texans were only heating up.

Behind a four-interception afternoon from Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, including a 38-yard pick-six from Eric Murray, the Houston Texans were the first to punch their ticket to the AFC Divisional Round with a 32-12 victory at NRG Stadium.

The 32-point swing marked the most points scored by the Texans since the 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11.

After a sluggish offensive start, C.J. Stroud got into a rhythm. It took a muffed snap and an eventual 34-yard pass to Xavier Hutchinson to kick the offense into high gear. Houston (11-7) capped off its 99-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Nico Collins.

Stroud finished with 282 passing yards and a touchdown pass against one interception. Collins, who caught seven passes for 122 yards, surpassed DeAndre Hopkins as the all-time single-game leader in receiving yards for a playoff game.

Herbert constantly was under pressure thanks to a potent pass rush headlined by Will Anderson Jr. His 2.5 sacks mark the most by a Texans player since J.J. Watt in 2019’s wild-card round matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

Herbert’s first interception was on a deep pass to rookie Kamari Lassiter in the second quarter. His second came in the third quarter, leading to Murray’s return and Houston’s two-score lead.

The Pro Bowler was picked off again on the ensuing drive while trying to find tight end Will Dissly, only this time by Derek Stingley Jr. Two drives later, Stingley called ballgame with his second pick of the half.

Herbert finished 14-of-32 passing for 242 yards with a 40.9 passer rating.

Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon was named the “NVP” by Nickelodeon after rushing for 106 yards on 25 carries. His 17-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left was the icing on the cake for the afternoon.

The Texans now await the winners of the rest of the wild-card weekend to determine where they’ll play in the divisional round.

WATCH: Texans DL Denico Autry records critical sack vs. Chargers

The Houston Texans are getting hot at the right time behind Dencio Autry.

Welcome back to the starting lineup, Denico Autry.

The Houston Texans’ veteran defensive tackle stepped up on third down to record his first sack in the postseason on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Hebert in the third quarter of the wild-card round.

The Bolts’ offense was driving, but the sack led to a punt.

Houston, which leads 20-6 following an Eric Murray interception returned for a touchdown, is less than 20 minutes away from winning its third straight wild-card round game. All-time, the Texans are 6-2 on Saturday afternoon in the postseason.

Announcers set for Chargers vs. Texans wild-card weekend showdown

Here’s who’s on the call for the Texans and Chargers entering the wild-card round weekend.

The Houston Texans return to NRG Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a winner-take-all showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS and Parmount+. Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Charles Davis (analyst) will serve as the crew in the booth. On the field,  Evan Washburn (field reporter) will conduct interviews and provide injury updates from the sidelines.

The Texans aim to keep their wild-card round winning streak alive against a surging Bolts roster on the riser. All-time, Houston is 5-2 in the first round of the playoffs. The Texans also are riding a three-game winning streak, including last year’s 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

With a win, the Texans would likely own the last seed in the postseason if all goes according to plan. The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday evening while the Buffalo Bills kickoff Sunday’s three-game set at home against the Denver Broncos.

If both teams win, Houston would hit the road to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round. But sights are on securing a win this weekend despite being a 5.5-point home favorite.

“We’re here now, let’s go play,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “For me, nothing else matters. It’s how you’re playing right now. Are you playing your best ball going into the playoffs? That’s what matters most. And are you able to consistently keep up with that when you are in the playoffs? Can you continue to play good ball?”

Houston last faced off against Los Angeles in a home back during the 2022 season.

Cowboys All-Pro believes Texans are ‘doomed’ vs. Chargers in wild-card round

Micah Parsons is one of the countless voices who is not buying into the Texans’ chances of winning on Saturday against Los Angeles.

The Houston Texans have plenty of doubters entering their Saturday showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons is one of the vocal oppressors.

While Parsons might have a close-knit relationship with second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, he also is a competitor. From a competitive standpoint, the fourth-year do-it-all defender is quite confident that the AFC South champions are down and out before kickoff.

“I’m going with the Chargers,” Parsons said during the latest episode of his podcast ‘The Edge With Micah Parsons.’ “I think the Chargers have the most momentum going into this game. Their defense [has] been playing lights out. You know, you look at it, Justin Herbert’s been playing great.”

Parsons gave credit to Houston (10-7) for winning the AFC South, but also pointed out that the team initially built to hang with the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens has changed since Week 1.

“Texans [are] another team who’s battled injuries, but I think the Chargers are gonna win this game. I’m going take the Chargers.”

Parsons might be a rival toward the opposing Lone Star State roster, but his logic is far from flawed. Houston’s dealt with a slew of significant injuries, including the season-ending losses of receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, defensive back Jalen Pitre and safety Jimmie Ward.

Houston limped into the bye week after 13 straight games and also closed out December with two losses to playoff-bound rosters.

Meanwhile. the Chargers have been one of the league’s hottest teams, closing out the regular season with three straight wins, including double-digit wins over the Raiders and Patriots.

While Parsons can predict Houston will be a one-and-done in the postseason, at least the other Texas team made it. What did the Cowboys finish this year after shoring up the No. 2 seed a season ago?

Hopefully the 7-10 record is enough to satisfy Parsons. Houston, meanwhile, looks to shock the world on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at NRG Stadium.

They’re all bought in, even if Parsons has sold his stock.

“Noise is always going to be there,” Stroud said. “It’s a part of sports. It’s always evident in this sport. They said the same thing about us last year when we played the Browns (in the playoffs). I’m not saying it’s last year, but we went out there and did what we had to do to win. ”

Key things to know about Texans’ wild-card opponent: Chargers

Here’s some quick hits to know about the Los Angeles Chargers entering the wild-card round showdown on Saturday.

The Houston Texans return to NRG Stadium to face off against the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

To preview the matchup, here are some key things to know about Houston.

How Houston finished the regular season

The Chargers finished with an 11-6 record, winning three of their last four games, including two by 14-plus points. Against playoff teams, Los Angeles posted a 3-4 record, including a 0-2 record against No. 1 seed Kansas City.

Luck Ladd

Justin Herbert is the headliner out west, but he’s had a reliable weapon in Ladd McConkey. The second-round pick out of Georgia has been a consistent target in the slot, averaging 5.2 catches per game and 14.0 yards a reception. He also has three 100-yard outings, including a career-best 123-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Win on third down

The Chargers enter Saturday not only boasting the NFL’s top-scoring defense, but also featuring a top-five defense on third-down efficiency. Headlined by All-Pro safety Derwin James, Los Angeles is allowing opponents to convert on 35.7% of drives.

Houston, which is coming off a 23-14 win over the Tennessee Titans, ranked 20th in conversion rating at 37.6% per outing.

Red zone dominance

Bobby Slowik’s play-calling must be elite inside the 20. Los Angeles’ defense not only leads the league in scoring but also opposing red-zone touchdown percentage. Teams are scoring at a 44.6% success rate.

Slowing down Nick Bosa and Khalil Mack might be the key for Houston if it plans on scoring. The Bolts duo under new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter finished with 11 total sacks. Bud Dupree, the No. 3 rotational specialist, also recorded six sacks in 15 games.

Other notes

  • The Chargers are 10th  in third-down conversion rate and 3rd in turnover margin.
  • Herbert leads the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio with 23 passing TDs against 3 INTs
  • The Chargers have the second-fewest giveaways (14)
  • Los Angeles has allowed 44 sacks this season, 23 of which have come up from up the middle.
  • While a balanced offense, the Chargers are averaging 213.5 passing yards per game. Eight different players have caught a touchdown pass from Herbert.

Texans vs. Chargers injury report: Latest updates, news for Tuesday

Here’s the injury report for both the Texans and Chargers following Tuesday’s practice.

Here are the full injury reports from Tuesday’s practice for the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers ahead of their wild-card round showdown on Saturday at NRG Stadium.

Houston Texans (10-7)

DID NOT PRACTICE

Chargers to hold Day 1 of mandatory minicamp at Camp Pendleton

The Chargers are returning to San Diego for a day.

The Chargers’ mandatory minicamp will be held at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA, but only for two days.

The first day, which is on June 11, will be at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA, per the military base’s website.

Located at 11 Area Football Field, practice is open to base patrons from 12:15 to 2 p.m. No registration is required.

A meet-and-greet will also be held with the players from the Chargers.

This will be the Chargers’ first return to the San Diego area since they moved to Los Angeles ahead of the 2017 season.

Jim Harbaugh returns to his old stomping grounds, as he played quarterback for the then-San Diego Chargers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Chargers’ Raheem Layne making splash plays early in training camp

Raheem Layne could push himself up the safety depth chart if he continues to make plays.

There is a battle in Chargers training camp for the fourth spot at the safety position, and second-year Raheem Layne is making his case early on to secure it.

Layne logged a pass deflection and the first turnover of camp in team drills. He was covering tight end Michael Ezeike and as quarterback Easton Stick passed, Layne read it perfectly and came away with the football.

Around this time last year, Layne was also making plays. The former undrafted free agent out of Indiana made the most of his opportunities while Derwin James and Mark Webb were out, earning him a roster spot.

Layne rarely saw the defensive side of the ball in his rookie campaign, but he made his money on special teams.

As it stands, Derwin James and Alohi Gilman are slated to be the starting safeties, with last year’s third-round pick JT Woods as the third safety coming on in dime (six defensive back) packages.

Woods struggled in his rookie season, but the coaches expect him to make a leap. However, if Layne continues to make plays, he could end up warranting that third spot, which is a vital role in Brandon Staley’s defense.

A cornerback-to-safety convert, Layne has excellent instincts in coverage, experience in multiple alignments and good run defense to be a solid contributor on defense.