Chargers Fall Short Against Playoff-Bound Texans, 20-16, Dashing AFC West Hopes

C.J. Stroud Shines as Texans Clinch Playoff Spot with Win Over Chargers

In a stunning display, C.J. Stroud threw two long touchdowns on the Houston Texans’ first two drives, leading the team to a 20-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. This win secured the Texans their third consecutive playoff berth, marking the first time in franchise history they have achieved this feat.

The Texans, now 11-5, extended their winning streak to eight games, the longest since a nine-game stretch in 2018. Conversely, the Chargers (11-5) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, relinquishing the AFC West title to the idle Denver Broncos. Earlier in the season, the Chargers had a chance to set up a decisive match against Denver in Week 18, but this loss dashed those hopes.

Stroud’s early offensive prowess stunned the Chargers, as he connected with Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. He followed that with another touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel, covering 43 yards. Notably, the Chargers had only allowed one touchdown pass of over 40 yards in their previous 15 games.

Completing his first six passes, Stroud finished the game with 16 completions on 28 attempts for 244 yards, but he did throw two interceptions. Houston’s defense put pressure on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert early, forcing him to face sacks on his first two possessions. The Chargers struggled offensively, managing only three first downs in their first four possessions.

Herbert, playing with a broken left hand, completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked five times during the game. Despite an interception by Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., the subsequent possession resulted in only a 27-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker, bringing the score to 14-3. Two more interceptions thrown by Stroud, however, did not lead to any points for the Chargers.

In a critical moment, Herbert was intercepted at the Houston 1-yard line by Azeez Al-Shaair, who capitalized on a pass intended for Oronde Gadsden that slipped through the receiver’s hands. The Chargers faced further struggles when Dicker missed a field goal attempt just before halftime, marking the first miss from under 40 yards in his career.

Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn contributed with field goals from 41 and 44 yards. The Texans maintained control throughout the game, despite the Chargers closing the gap to 17-10 in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Gadsden.

Injuries

• Texans: Cornerback Kamari Lassiter sustained a knee injury in the second quarter but later returned to the game.
• Chargers: Running back Hassan Haskins was evaluated for a head injury in the fourth quarter.

Upcoming Matches

The Texans will conclude their regular season against the Indianapolis Colts, while the Chargers are set to visit the Denver Broncos.