The Chargers spent most of the three quarters stumbling around the field, but the Texans couldn’t pull away and it is now a one-score game in Los Angeles.
Quarterback Justin Herbert found tight end Oronde Gadsden for a one-yard touchdown that cut Houston’s lead to 17-10 with 13 seconds left to play in the third quarter.
Herbert helped set up the score with a 28-yard scramble on a third down and picked up another first down when he stayed on his feet to deliver a pass to Quentin Johnston while being hit by Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Herbert, who has been sacked five times, is now 15-of-22 for 160 yards on the afternoon.
The Texans raced out to a 14-0 lead after their first two possessions, but the last eight have produced just three more and they will need to find a way to get things back into gear if they’re going to ensure themselves of a playoff berth by the end of business in Week 17.
The Chargers had a couple of chances to cut into the Texans’ lead before halftime in Los Angeles on Saturday, but they couldn’t make anything of them.
Cameron Dicker missed a 32-yard field goal wide right with 10 seconds to play in the half and the Texans remain up 14-3 with 30 minutes left to play as a result. Dicker’s field goal attempt came after the Chargers took over on the Houston 32-yard line thanks to C.J. Stroud’s second interception of the first half.
The miss was the first of Dicker’s career on a kick inside of 40 yards.
Stroud apparently didn’t see Chargers defensive back Elijah Molden standing between him and wide receiver Christian Kirk and the play gave the Chargers some life after they threw an interception of their own. A Justin Herbert toss to tight end Oronde Gadsden went off the rookie’s hands and into the waiting mitts of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on the Houston 1-yard line.
Stroud’s first interception came after Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage and safety Derwin James reeled it in for the takeaway. That led to the only Chargers points of the first half, but Dicker’s field goal didn’t do much to dent the lead that the Texans built with long touchdown passes on their first two possessions of the game.
Stroud opened the game 6-of-6 for 151 yards, but finished the half 10-of-18 for 185 yards. Herbert is 10-of-14 for 123 yards and he’s been sacked three times.
The Texans have doubled down on long touchdowns in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Chargers.
C.J. Stroud threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jayden Higgins on the team’s first possession and he found Higgins’ fellow 2025 draft pick and Iowa State product Jaylin Noel on the second possession. This play only covered 43 yards, but the result was another touchdown and a 14-0 lead for Houston.
Stroud is now 4-of-4 for 142 yards.
The Chargers’ lone possession lasted three plays and ended with Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter planting quarterback Justin Herbert into the ground for a sack. Herbert, who recently had surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand, got some medical attention on the sideline after that hit and he may not be in the game long if the Texans keep scoring at will.
The Texans offense failed to impress in last Sunday’s win over the Raiders, but they’re off to an impressive start on Sunday.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud went deep on the third play of the game and he connected with rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown. Ka’imi Fairbairn’s extra point put the Texans up 7-0 over the Chargers with less than two minutes off the clock in Los Angeles.
It was the longest catch of the year for the second-round pick as well as his fifth receiving touchdown. It was also the longest touchdown pass of Stroud’s career.
The Texans will be in the AFC playoffs with a win and Stroud’s big throw put them on the right path for that result.
The Chargers will not have running back Kimani Vidal for Saturday’s home game against the Texans.
Vidal is inactive after being listed as questionable to play due to a neck injury. That will leave Hassan Haskins and Jaret Patterson as the options behind rookie Omarion Hampton in the backfield.
Right guard Mekhi Becton is good to go for the Chargers, however. He also drew a questionable tag, but his knee is well enough for him to play.
While Becton got the green light, Texans left tackle Aireontae Ersery was not so fortunate. He’s inactive due to a thumb injury, which means the Texans are down both their tackles because Trent Brown was ruled out on Thursday with ankle and knee injuries. Blake Fisher is set to start for Ersery while Tytus Howard will be at right tackle.
Left tackle Jamaree Salyer, wide receiver Derius Davis, safety RJ Mickens, and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste were ruled out for the Chargers during the week. Edge rusher Kyle Kennard and tight end Tyler Conklin are the other inactives.
Quarterback Graham Mertz, linebacker Jamal Hill, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, cornerback Alijah Huzzie, and defensive end Solomon Byrd are inactive for Houston.
