Tag: Chargers vs. Texans

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.

Texans defense makes history in wild-card round win over Chargers

The Houston Texans continue to make history in the postseason after a dominant outing against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Houston Texans have a knack for making history during the early rounds of the playoffs.

Saturday at NRG Stadium was no different against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. 

In a 32-12 win over the breakout Bolts’ roster, the Texans became the fifth team to record four interceptions, an interception return for a touchdown and four sacks in a playoff game win, according to ESPN Research.

The last three teams to accomplish that feat in the playoffs were the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the 1989 San Francisco 49ers.

What doe all those all those teams have in common? The trio hoisted up a Lombardi Trophy after moving on to the Super Bowl.

“Our defense, they dominated today,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That’s who we want to be. They played our brand of football. They stopped the run first. That’s what I’m most proud of how we stop the run. And when we stop the run, you make a team one-dimensional, and that’s when our defensive line just causes havoc.”

Houston started the turnover-filled day with a Kamari Lassiter interception during the second quarter. With 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Herbert overshot rookie receiver Ladd McConkey, leading to a 36-yard return for a touchdown by Eric Murray.

During the fourth quarter, Herbert was intercepted on back-to-back drives by Derek Stingley Jr., including the nail in the coffin on Los Angeles’ final drive.

The defense allowed a field goal on the Chargers’ first two drives then stiffened up to buy the Texans’ offense time as it struggled for the first five possessions. After that, Houston scored on four straight drives to build a two-touchdown lead entering the final seven minutes.

“When we stop the run, you make a team one-dimensional, and that’s when our defensive line just causes havoc,” Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson said.

Herbert became the first full-time starter in NFL history to have more interceptions in a playoff game than in the regular season. The Texans pressured the Pro Bowl passer on 39% of his dropbacks as he went 1-for-10 for 17 yards with an interception under duress.

“That’s the complementary football that we been looking for and we been needing as a team,” Ryans said. “Just outstanding performance on all three phases. Really proud of all our guys.” 

Houston travels to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud leads all passers in wild-card round performance

C.J. Stroud is leading the pack of remaining QBs in passing yards following his epic day against the Chargers.

For as bad of a season that C.J. Stroud had in the public eye during his sophomore campaign, he seems to be hot in the playoffs. At least that’s what the numbers say after the wild-card round.

The Houston Texans second-year passer led all quarterbacks with 282 passing yards in a 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday to advance to the divisional round.

Buffalo Bills gunslinger Josh Allen, who guided the AFC East champions to a victory over the Denver Broncos, finished second with 10 fewer yards.

Stroud, who also threw a touchdown pass and an interception, really found his mojo after a 34-yard fumble recovery-turned-completion to Xavier Hutchinson. That was the start of a 99-yard drive capped off with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, thus giving Houston a 7-6 lead.

The Texans (11-7) never trailed the rest of the afternoon in what could be the final home game at NRG Stadium. They scored 23 unanswered points before Los Angeles ever found its way back.

Stroud also finished with a 66.7% completion rating and a 90.7 passer rating.

“People always see our mountaintops, but one thing that people don’t understand there are valleys, too, times just going through it. In my life, I’m very grateful for both,” Stroud said postgame. “I haven’t always been that way, but my character is being built as I continue to play this great game. I’m really blessed to have the teammates I have.”

The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud makes NFL history in Wild Card victory over Chargers

C.J. Stroud is back in the history books after helping the Houston Texans secure another wild-card round win.

C.J. Stroud made history last postseason with his three-touchdown outing against the Cleveland Browns.

Something about wild-card weekend brings out the best in the Houston Texans’ passer.

Stroud, who guided the Texans to a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at NRG Stadium, became the sixth quarterback in league history to win playoff starts in each of his first two NFL seasons.

He joins Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (2004-05), Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco (2008-09), New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez (2009-10), Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (2012-13) and San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy (2022-23) as other gunslingers to accomplish the feat.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be able to be in these shoes. I don’t take it for granted,” Stroud said following their double-digit win since Week 11. “I’m so grateful and amazed how the Lord has uplifted this team. It hasn’t always been easy this year, but this is just another thing that we can use to motivate us even more to get to the divisional round, whoever we play and play well there. Amazing though. I’m so happy and so blessed.”

Stroud started slow. The Texans fumbled on the first play of their opening drive after John Metchie III was stripped-sacked by Alohi Gilman. Two drives later, he threw an interception right in front of head coach DeMeco Ryans.

But it’s about how you finish rather than start. Stroud regained himself and stepped up after muffing a snap to connect with Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.

After that, everyone was bought in and ready to go to work.

“That’s the play that sparked our entire team,” Ryans said.

Stroud went on to help Houston take the lead, finding Nico Collins for the game’s first touchdown. He later led three more scoring drives, including one before halftime thanks to a 27-yard scramble.

Looking back, Stroud remembered the energy turning its direction until the end of the right.

“After we made the completion, I looked to the sidelines and everybody was turnt up, so that turnt me up,” Stroud said.

Stroud finished 22-of-33 passing for 282 yards with one TD and one interception. Running back Joe Mixon extended Houston’s with a 17-yard touchdown to give Houston a 32-12 advantage with about four minutes to go.

“That’s the complementary football that we been looking for and we been needing as a team,” Ryans said.  “Just outstanding performance on all three phases. Really proud of all our guys.” 
Houston hits the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round next week.

C.J. Stroud’s fumble actually helped Texans win vs. Chargers

While the play wasn’t designed to happen this way, C.J. Stroud’s fumble might have saved the Houston Texans’ season.

One play doesn’t define a season, but it can define a game.

But how many times do a fumble actually help an offense? Well, that was the case for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers.

And yes, the Texans believe that was the play needed to give Houston life.

“To me that was the play of the game that really created momentum for our entire team,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after Houston secured a 32-12 win against the Chargers in the wild-card round.

The momentum shift happened within seconds deep inside the Texans’ territory. Facing a 3rd-and-16, the Texans appeared ready to punt again if they couldn’t connect.

But Stroud watched as the drive went from bad to word. He completely missed Jarrett Patterson’s snap in the shotgun as the ball rolled free at the Texans’ 5-yard line.

Stroud somehow scooped up the loose ball and sprinted toward the sidelined. He managed to plant his feet and uncork a pass before the Chargers’ pass rush could reach him.

Waiting at mid-filed was Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.

“JUST LIKE THEY DREW IT UP!”

C.J. Stroud makes things happen after the bad snap 😱

📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+

📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/II2oMnkbM1

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2025

“After we made the completion, I looked at the sideline and everybody was turned up, and that turned me up, because I was still kind of mad at myself,” Stroud said.

That was the spark missing for weeks with the first-team offense. Two plays later, Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 39-yard strike. With 58 seconds remaining in the half, Stroud found Collins again, only this time for a 13-yard score to give Houston the 7-6 lead.

“Those are the type of plays that change momentum, and a team can rally around plays like that,” Stroud said.

After that fumble that almost decided the game, Houston was in control. Stroud finished the afternoon with 282 passing yards and a touchdown. Collins set a playoff record with 122 receiving yards off seven catches.

Meanwhile, the defense forced three more interceptions against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, thus helping Houston never trail again.

DeMeco Ryans said QB CJ Stroud fumbled play turned 34-yard completion to X.Hutchinson “sparked the team.”

— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) January 12, 2025

And it was all made possible by a play that wasn’t supposed to ever happen with a receiver at the right place after not giving up on a play.

“Shoutout to Hutch for making a great instinctual play and I just tried my best to save the play,” Stroud laughed.

The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium next week to take on the Kanas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

Offense nowhere to be found in Chargers’ loss to Texans: Instant analysis of wild-card game

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Texans in a game that saw Justin Herbert have arguably the worst performance of his career.

The Chargers’ season has come to a close after losing to the Texans on Saturday.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 32-12 loss to Houston.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert’s pass intended for Ladd McConkey was picked off by Eric Murray and taken back for a touchdown to extend the Texans’ lead to two scores late in the third quarter.

Notable number

Herbert is the first player in NFL history to throw more interceptions in a playoff game than in the regular season, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim. He threw four tonight and only threw three all year.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: 9 catches, 197 yards, touchdown
  2. EDGE Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
  3. CB Deane Leonard: Interception

Quick hits

  • This was arguably the worst game of Herbert’s career, crumbling with the world watching him. He finished 14-32 (43.8%), the worst completion percentage in a playoff game by a Charger since Philip Rivers in 2006, and tied for third worst in franchise history, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
  • Herbert had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game in his entire career.
  • The Chargers’ offense was lifeless the entire game. The Texans pressured Herbert 19 times and sacked him four times. There were too many dropped passes. The running game was nonexistent.
  • The Chargers’ defense forced three turnovers, but the offense only turned those takeaways into three points.
  • Los Angeles averaged just 2.8 yards per rush. The Texans dominated at the line of scrimmage, giving the Chargers no rushing lanes.
  • McConkey was the leading receiver with nine catches for 197 yards. The next on the list was Will Dissly, who had two receptions for 16 yards. Quentin Johnston had five targets but failed to record a catch.
  • Los Angeles finished 3-of-11 on third down. They held Houston to 5-of-14 on third down but allowed them to convert on both fourth-down attempts.
  • The momentum shift came late in the second quarter, deep in Texans territory when Stroud fumbled the snap but recovered and found a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson in the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain because of a busted coverage. Houston scored and went on to put up 23 unanswered points.

What’s next?

The Chargers finished the 2024 season with an 11-7 record and a playoff spot in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. They enter the offseason with plenty of positional needs at running back, wide receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, edge defender and interior defensive line.

WATCH: Derek Stingley Jr. gives Justin Herbert a hat trick of turnovers

The Houston Texans might have sealed their fate for a chance to play in the next round of the playoffs.

Throw your ballcaps on the field, Houston Texans fans.

Justin Herbert has a hat trick.

During the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card round, Herbert tried to find tight end Will Dissley for a first down. Instead, he tossed his third interception of the afternoon, this one into the arms of All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley now leads the Texans with six interceptions, including five during the regular season. After a 67-yard return, the Texans had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn.

The Texans lead 25-12 over the Los Angeles Chargers entering the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. With a win, Houston would improve to 6-2 on wild-card weekend.

WATCH: Eric Murray secures pick-six vs. Chargers in wild-card round

Eric Murray might have just sent the Houston Texans to the AFC Divisional Round!

Eric Murray is taking the Houston Texans to the next round.

On an overthrown ball from Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, Murray picked off the pass for a 38-yard touchdown return, extending the Texans lead by 14.

Here’s a look at the play below.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Texans have the momentum and could be in line for another win in the AFC Wild Card Round. Houston would move to 6-2 all-time on Saturday afternoon games.

WATCH: Texans take lead in wild-card round with Nico Collins TD

Nico Collins can’t be contained on wild-card weekend over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Houston Texans aren’t just on the board. They now have the lead heading into halftime.

The Texans are up 7-6 over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round following a Nico Collins 13-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud with just under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Houston got lucky after a snap went sideways. Deep in their territory, the Texans fumbled as Stroud tried to make something out of nothing. He uncorked one downfield to Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard pickup.

Two plays later, Collins picked up 39 yards and put Houston in the red zone.

Houston (10-7) will begin the second half on offense. With a win, the Texans would move to 6-2 all-time on wild-card weekend.

WATCH: Texans CB Kamari Lassiter intercepts Justin Herbert in wild-card round

Kamari Lassiter living up to his shutdown persona against the Los Angeles Chargers.

A turnover for a turnover?

Great, now no more.

One play after Houston Texans C.J. Stroud was intercepted by Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Deane Leonard, Justin Herbert gave the ball right back to the good guys at home.

Kamari Lassiter recorded his fourth career interception as Herbert tried to connect with wide receiver Quentin Johnston on a deep pass.

If the ball was overthrown, rookie safety Calen Bullock would have made the play. Either way, the Texans get the ball back with the intent to score.

Houston, which trails 6-0, will receive the ball to begin the second half.