The Houston Texans downed the Los Angeles Chargers at home by a score of 32-12 to advance to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. This is the second consecutive year that the Texans have won on Wild Card Weekend to advance to the next round of the postseason.
In a matchup featuring two of the NFL’s elite young quarterbacks, it was the defenses that made headlines. The defensive units combined for seven turnovers, seven sacks, and just eight third-down conversions on 25 attempts. In fact, the first third-down conversion of the contest didn’t come until midway through the second quarter. The Texans’ defense terrorized Justin Herbert who had four turnovers in the game.
While they eventually found their footing, it was a disastrous start for the Texans, who fumbled the ball away on their first offensive play after the Chargers opened the game with a field goal. LA Defensive back Derwin James Jr. caused the turnover, giving him his first forced fumble since Week 12 of 2022. Houston’s defense showed up though, holding the Chargers to a field goal to keep it a one-score game. Though the Chargers held the ball for six more minutes than the Texans in the first quarter, they only had a 6-0 lead to show for it.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw an uncharacteristic interception in the second quarter, his first road interception in his last 274 pass attempts. Coming into this matchup, Herbert hadn’t thrown a road INT since Week Two against the Carolina Panthers.
C.J. Stroud almost had his second turnover of the game late in the second quarter when a snap went through his hands, but the second-year QB scooped up the live ball and completed a cross-body pass while running away from defenders to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain. Stroud found wide receiver Nico Collins two plays later for another 37 yards to reach LA’s red zone. That led to a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Texans a 7-6 lead with under a minute to go in the second quarter. Prior to that 99-yard scoring drive, Houston’s offense had only accumulated 70 total yards on its first five possessions.
UNREALLLL THROW FROM CJ7 🤯
📺: @Nickelodeon and @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/PLl8uTifWK
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 11, 2025
C.J. Stroud would make a little more magic happen just before halftime with a 27-yard rush that set up a 41-yard field goal to extend Houston’s lead to 10-6 at the half. That 27-yard pickup was Stroud’s longest run of the season.
Both teams ran 33 offensive plays in the first half. The Texans outgained the Chargers 214 yards to 123.
Penalties hurt the Texans, who were flagged eight times for 86 yards. After making it all the way to LA’s 19 yard line, Houston was penalized on three consecutive plays, which forced the Texans to settle for a 37-yard field goal to increase the lead to 13-6.
Justin Herbert had arguably his worst game of the season, with four interceptions and just 14 completions on 32 pass attempts. His second interception was returned 38 yards for a touchdown to put Houston ahead 20-6 headed into the final frame. This was Herbert’s first career game with four INTs and his first multi-interception game since Week Seven of the 2023 season.
ERIC MURRAY PICK-6!
📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/iSsBcXpiDW— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025
Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey continued to impress in his first season as a pro with nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown in his postseason debut. He made an 86-yard catch-and-run to cut the lead to 23-12 in the fourth quarter. However, the Texans blocked the extra point attempt and returned it 85 yards for a two-point touchdown to make the score 25-12.
After a slow start, Texans running back Joe Mixon finished the game with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown to put the game out of reach 32-12. He had an unfortunate fumble on the opening drive of the third quarter, Mixon’s first lost fumble since December 5th, 2021.
Houston Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins was another key player in the win. The former third-round draft pick made seven receptions for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown. Collins now has five games with 100+ receiving yards this season.
C.J. Stroud was able to overcome an interception and throw for 282 yards and a touchdown. He picked up another 42 yards with his legs. With the victory, C.J. Stroud became the sixth quarterback ever to win at least one playoff game in each of his first two seasons.
With the loss, the Chargers remain winless in the playoffs this decade with their last postseason victory coming in 2018. The last time LA made the playoffs (2022), the Chargers lost in the Wild Card Round to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-30.
