The Houston Texans weren’t particularly good in the second half of the season. They were just 4-5 after a 6-2 start, and looked like a team that was lucky to play in the weak AFC South.
But the Texans will be one of the last eight teams standing in this NFL season. Houston had a fantastic defensive game, C.J. Stroud made a few big plays to overcome some of the Texans’ offensive mistakes and Houston eliminated the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday with a 32-12 win.
The Chargers were still in the game before Houston’s consistent pressure forced Justin Herbert into his worst mistake of the day. He threw high to Ladd McConkey even though he wasn’t under much pressure, it was picked off by Eric Murray and returned 38 yards for a touchdown. That play gave Houston a 20-6 lead and practically put the game away because a sleepwalking Chargers offense wasn’t going to overcome that deficit.
Herbert threw four interceptions and was sacked four times in a nightmare game. Herbert threw three interceptions the entire regular season.
Houston had a huge breakthrough last season and was predicted to do even more this season. It didn’t work out quite that way, but the Texans had an impressive playoff performance to stay alive.
Eric Murray (23) and the Texans' defense frustrated Justin Herbert and the Chargers in a wild-card win. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Chargers stumble often vs. Texans
The Chargers were off to a fast start. They had a solid opening drive downfield, though it stalled and they settled for a field goal. Right after that Derwin James Jr. forced a fumble and the Chargers were in Texans territory again.
That’s about when the Texans' defense dug in. The Chargers got only a field goal out of that possession, and it would be a long time before they scored again. The Texans' pass rush controlled the game. Herbert played well late in the season but was horrible on Saturday. A bad pass that Kamari Lassiter picked off downfield, one play after the Chargers picked off Stroud in Texans territory, was a big turning point in the first half.
On a fourth-and-2 in the second half, the Chargers went for it and Quentin Johnston ran a route short of the first-down marker against All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The pass was incomplete but Johnston would have been well short anyway, due to Stingley playing it perfectly. Every time the Chargers faced a big situation, the Texans outperformed them.
The Texans' defense played like it had to make some big plays to make up for a struggling offense, and it accomplished that.
Even though the Chargers’ mistakes were keeping the Texans in the game, Houston’s mistakes were keeping Los Angeles in the game as well. Joe Mixon lost a fumble on an ill-timed trick play. He was clearly looking to pass but tucked it when nobody was open and was stripped. It was his first lost fumble in 1,082 touches. The Texans seemed to throw an interception into the end zone, which would have been their fourth turnover, but replay showed that James didn’t catch it. Houston got lucky, and salvaged a field goal.
The Texans led 13-6 after that, and the defense made sure that lead held up.
2 INTs put game away
The Chargers still had hope but two Herbert's interceptions ruined any hopes of winning.
The first pick was on Herbert. He seemed worried about the pass rush even though he wasn’t under much pressure, double-clutched and threw a bad pass to McConkey. That was returned for a touchdown by Murray and put the Chargers in a big hole.
The second pick was the fault of tight end Will Dissly. His second bad drop of the game was picked off by Stingley and returned deep into Chargers territory. A field goal put Houston up 23-6.
The Texans had run hot and cold on defense all season, but they were good Saturday. The Chargers focused on building a strong offensive line, but the Texans got the best of it. Herbert was terrible when he was pressured, and sometimes even when he was just worried about the pressure that wasn’t quite there yet. An 86-yard touchdown to McConkey, after the Texans had already taken control of the game, made Herbert’s day look a lot better. Even that play turned into a blooper, as the Chargers had the extra point blocked, kicker Cameron Dicker tried to knock it down — clearly not understanding it was still a live ball — and got hit hard after he did. The Texans picked up the loose ball and returned it for 2 points.
That summed up the game. The Chargers seemed oddly ill-prepared for their postseason opener. Houston wasn’t always great, particularly on offense, but got the win. The Texans haven’t had the season they were hoping for, but they still can make it a memorable one. If the defense keeps making plays like it did Saturday, they have a chance.
Total offense: 429 yards C.J. Stroud: 22/32, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Joe Mixon: 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD Nico Collins: 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
Ian Casselberry
Texans run the clock out after 2-minute warning
Dameon Pierce puts it away for the Texans with a 13-yard run on 2nd-and-8 after the 2-minute warning.
Two kneeldowns from C.J. Stroud and the game is over.
Texans 32, Chargers 12. Houston is on to the divisional round.
Ian Casselberry
Justin Herbert throws 4th interception
This game was already over, but the Chargers took another body blow with Justin Herbert's fourth interception of the day.
Herbert looked for DJ Chark down the right sideline, but underthrew the ball and it was picked off by Derek Stingley. That is Stingley's second INT of the day.
Derek Stingley Jr. AGAIN! The @HoustonTexans grab their FOURTH pick of the day.
The Texans go for it on 4th-and-1 after C.J. Stroud is ruled short of a first down on the previous play. He gets two yards on a QB sneak for the first down.
Ian Casselberry
Texans grinding out the clock
It's Joe Mixon time on this drive as Houston tries to run time off the clock.
Mixon gets six consecutive carries, gaining 22 yards.
C.J. Stroud appeared to have a first down on a nine-yard scramble on 2nd-and-8 from the Chargers' 47. But he's ruled short of the line to gain on the field and replay upheld the call.
Ian Casselberry
Texans get 2 points on blocked extra point return
Even when the Chargers score a touchdown, they can't maintain any momentum. Cameron Dicker's extra point kick is blocked and returned for two points by D'Angelo Ross.
.@HoustonTexans special teams making more plays! They return the blocked kick back for two!
Texans 25, Chargers 12 with 10:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Ladd McConkey 86-yard TD
Are the Chargers back in this? After getting sacked on two consecutive plays to make it 3rd-and-26, Justin Herbert hits Ladd McConkey for an 86-yard catch and run.
After a nine-yard gain by Joe Mixon, C.J. Stroud is sacked for an eight-yard loss by Khalil Mack. That pushes Houston back to the Chargers' 12-yard line and Stroud throws incomplete to Mixon on 3rd-and-9.
Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks a 30-yard field goal to give Houston a 23–
Ian Casselberry
How Houston's Pick 6 looked on Nickelodeon
In case you were curious how Nate Burleson, SpongeBob Squarepants and Patrick Star called Eric Murray's Pick 6...
This one wasn't Justin Herbert's fault, but he throws another interception after his pass deflects off Will Dissly's hands and is caught by Derek Stingley.
The Chargers forced Houston into a 3-and-out. But on the first play of the next possession, Justin Herbert is picked off by Eric Murray and he runs it back for a touchdown.
The Chargers can't answer Houston's field goal. Justin Herbert is sacked on 3rd-and-6 by Denico Autry for a six-yard loss and L.A. has to punt.
JK Scott kicks it 36 yards and the Texans take over at their 37-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Texans 13, Chargers 6
An offsides penalty on Joey Bosa with a 13-yard catch by Joe Mixon and 12-yard reception from Diontae Johnson moves Houston back into field goal range.
On 4th-and-10 from the L.A. 19, Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks a 37-yard field goal.
Ian Casselberry
2nd-and-40 for Houston
A holding penalty on Blake Fisher pushes the Texans back another 10 yards. Houston has a 2nd-and-40 from the Chargers' 49-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
Derwin James interception overturned
Check that! On replay review, Derwin James was ruled to have not caught the ball on his interception.
However, Joe Mixon is called for an unnecessary roughness penalty on the play which pushes Houston back to the 39-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
C.J. Stroud intercepted in end zone
Houston was driving toward another touchdown after Joe Mixon carries the ball twice for 27 yards. But a holding penalty on Tytus Howard pushes the ball back from the 14-yard line to the 24.
On the next play, C.J. Stroud is intercepted in the end zone by Derwin James, who returns it 59 yards to the Texans' 46-yard line.
L.A. went for it on 4th-and-2 from the Texans' 34-yard line. But Justin Herbert's pass to Quentin Johnston goes for only one yard, and the Chargers turn it over.
Gus Edwards gained eight yards on the first two plays of the possession. Yet he was stopped for no gain on 3rd-and-2. The Chargers opted not to give him the ball one more time.
Ian Casselberry
One play, 32 yards
Justin Herbert connects with Ladd McConkey for a 17-yard pass on 1st-and-10, and 15 more yards are tacked on due to a facemask penalty on Derek Stingley.
Ian Casselberry
Texans fumble, Chargers recover
Following that 41-yard gain, Joe Mixon fumbles. The Texans appeared to be attempting a halfback pass. Tony Jefferson ripped the ball out for the turnover.
The Texans won the opening coin toss and deferred, so they begin the second half on offense.
Ian Casselberry
CBS' studio crew overlooks Dirty Bubble influence
The "NFL Today" studio crew overlooked Jim Harbaugh being overtaken by the Dirty Bubble early in the second quarter. Thankfully, the Nickelodeon broadcast was all over it.
The Texans do indeed get a field goal before halftime.
A five-yard run from Dare Ogunbowale followed by a nine-yard catch by Robert Woods moves the ball to the Chargers' 23-yard line. With three seconds left, Houston sends Ka'imi Fairbairn out there for a 41-yard kick and he hits it.
Ian Casselberry
C.J. Stroud scrambles for 27 yards
A field goal definitely looks in play for the Texans after C.J. Stroud gains 27 yards on a scramble.
Houston has the lead, 7–6, with 58 seconds remaining before halftime.
Ian Casselberry
Stroud to Collins for 37 yards
After Dalton Schultz dropped a pass over the middle that was ruled incomplete, not a fumble, C.J. Stroud connects on a deep ball with Nico Collins for a 37-yard gain.
Houston is at the Chargers' 12-yard line with 1:09 remaining in the first half. They still have all three timeouts.
Ian Casselberry
C.J. Stroud salvages a near-disastrous play
On 3rd-and-16 from the Houston 17, C.J. Stroud fumbles the snap. But he recovers the ball, scrambles to his right and finds a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.
At the 2-minute warning, the Texans have a 1st-and-10 from the Chargers' 49-yard
Ian Casselberry
Intentional grounding? You make the call
C.J. Stroud arguably committed an intentional grounding penalty on 2nd-and-3. That would've resulted in a safety, but the officials didn't make that call.
L.A. can't get another first down after that Ladd McConkey catch. But the Chargers get an outstanding punt from JK Scott. The kick goes 55 yards and Deane Leonard downs it at the Houston 1-yard line.
After the turnover, the Texans begin with a 13-yard pass to Nico Collins. But following an incompletion, Stroud is sacked by Khalil Mack for an eight-yard loss.
Stroud hit John Metchie for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-18, but the Texans have to punt. Tommy Townsend kicks it 50 yards and the Chargers are back at it from their 25-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
Justin Herbert intercepted
The Chargers and Texans trade interceptions.
Justin Herbert made an ill-advised throw, going across the field after rolling out to his right. His pass to Quentin Johnston gets picked off by Kamari Lassiter.
The @HoustonTexans take it right back! Kamari Lassiter with the pick.
Justin Herbert completed two consecutive passes to Ladd McConkey, covering 27 yards. J.K. Dobbins followed up with a six-yard run.
However, Herbert's next two passes were incomplete (Quentin Johnston dropping a catch on 3rd-and-4) and the Chargers have to punt.
JK Scott kicks it 47 yards and the Texans take over at their 12-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
Houston opts to punt
After appearing like they might go for it, the Texans opt to punt on 4th-and-11 from the Chargers' 46. Tommy Townsend's 38-yard kick pushes L.A. back to its own 8-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
End of 1st quarter: Chargers 6, Texans 0
The first quarter ends with C.J. Stroud getting sacked for a five-yard loss by Joey Bosa. Stroud follows up with a nine-yard completion to Dalton Schultz on 3rd-and-15.
On 3rd-and-7 from the Houston 33, C.J. Stroud was flushed out of the pocket by Joey Bosa and scrambled to the right. Looking for John Metchie, he's nearly intercepted.
Tommy Townsend kicks a 55-yard punt, but Kris Boyd commits a fair catch interference penalty on Derius Davis. That moves the Chargers from the 16-yard line to the 33 as they begin their third possession.
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Chargers 6, Texans 0
The Chargers can't capitalize on the turnover with a touchdown. Justin Herbert is sacked for a nine-yard loss by Will Anderson and Mario Edwards Jr.
Herbert hit DJ Chark for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-19, but that wasn't enough for the first down. Cameron Dicker hits a 39-yard field goal for his second of the game.
Ian Casselberry
Texans fumble
C.J. Stroud completed his first pass for the Texans. But after an eight-yard gain, receiver John Metchie fumbled. Alohi Gilman ripped the ball out.
In this absolutely packed episode of Football 301, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald break down every matchup heading into Wild Card weekend, offering insights into how playoff contenders are shaping up and which teams might be in trouble.
It was fitting that Sawyer, a two-year starter and three-year letterman and one of the faces of Ohio State's fierce defense, was the one who made the play of the game.
