Austin Ekeler is finally getting back on track.
Coming into this week, Ekeler and his position group mates were dead last in rushing offense. In our previews this week, however, we noted that Houston’s run defense was also last in the league. Something had to give.
Early in the second quarter, the Texans defense was the first to bend. After a few effective runs from Joshua Kelley, the Chargers found themselves in a second and five from the Texans 10. Ekeler got his second carry of the drive and found the end zone from ten yards out.
Watch Ekeler’s first TD of the year here:
aight, break out ur guitars @AustinEkeler | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/YJPUO7UiP8
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 2, 2022
On the following drive, Ekeler took a second carry to the house with 10:00 remaining in the frame. It came on a 3-play, 73-yard drive on which the Chargers moved the ball completely at will.
After a three-yard carry for Ekeler on first down, Justin Herbert found Mike Williams on a shallow crossing route for 50 yards. Williams was wide open over the middle because Houston was cheating up to defend the run, which they had struggled to do on either second-quarter drive. Williams made them pay, then Ekeler did the rest on first down from the Texans’ 20.
Watch Ekeler scamper free here:
he ordered another @AustinEkeler | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/zeVE0w0p4q
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 2, 2022