The Chargers took a little while to get going offensively on Sunday afternoon, but they were able to find some momentum as the second quarter wound down.
They got some help from their defense. Cornerback Casey Hayward did a great job of keeping his feet inbounds on the sideline to pick off Brock Osweiler with under five minutes to play in the half. Osweiler was on the run after being flushed from the pocket by a Chargers pass rush that’s also found its way as the game has unfolded.
Philip Rivers followed the turnover with two completions and Melvin Gordon broke off a big run to set up a 21-yard touchdown catch by Tyrell Williams that made the score 14-7 just after the two minute warning. Rivers was 12-of-13 at that point and the only incompletion was a drop by tight end Hunter Henry, but the completion percentage took a little hit while trying to add points at the end of the half. That effort failed when Josh Lambo missed a 51-yard field goal.
They got that chance thanks to Joey Bosa forcing a holding penalty and then sharing a sack with Damion Square to force a quick Texans punt. That tough sledding has been the case most of the day for the Texans, who picked up 72 of their 150 total yards on their lone scoring drive of the first half.
Getting the ball moving on offense will be a must in the second half or the Texans will find things tighter than they’d like in the AFC South at the end of the day.
