Los Angeles Chargers 12-32 Houston Texans: CJ Stro...

An impressed efficiency from CJ Stroud and Eric Murray’s 38-yard choose six noticed the Houston Texans roar into the Divisional spherical of the NFL Playoffs with a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card weekend.

Stroud sparked himself and the subdued Texans into life on the finish of an error-strewn first half when he salvaged a fumbled snap, initiating a drive that will finish with him throwing a landing move to Nico Collins.

The Texans would go on to attain 23 unanswered factors towards the floundering Chargers, who noticed quarterback Justin Herbert throw 4 interceptions and sacked 4 instances.

Herbert had thrown simply three interceptions in your entire common season and had by no means thrown greater than two in a recreation earlier than going through a Texans secondary led by cornerback Derek Stingley, who had two interceptions. Rookie Kamari Lassiter had the opposite choose.

Ladd McConkey’s unbelievable 86-yard landing threatened to spark a Chargers fightback late within the fourth quarter, however their hopes fizzled out when Cameron Dicker’s extra-point try was blocked and returned for 2 factors by the Texans cornerback D’Angelo Ross.

Stats leaders

Los Angeles Chargers

• Passing: Justin Herbert, 14/32, 242 yards, 1 TDs, 4 INTs
• Dashing: J.Ok. Dobbins, 9 carries, 26 yards
• Receiving: Ladd McConkey, 9 catches, 197yards, 1 TD

Houston Texans

• Passing: CJ Stroud, 22/33, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Dashing: Joe Mixon, 25 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
• Receiving: Nico Collins, 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD

Issues regarded bleak early on for the Texans, who fumbled on their first offensive play and have been down 6-0 with a minute left within the first half after two unanswered Dicker discipline objectives.

Deane Leonard intercepted Stroud early within the second quarter, however Lassiter picked off Herbert on the subsequent play to offer Houston the ball again because the defenses dominated the primary half.

Stroud lastly acquired one thing going for the Texans, a well timed 34-yard achieve after fumbling the snap proving the sport’s turning level as he ended a 14-play, 74-yard drive with a 13-yard landing move to Collins.

With Ka’imi Fairbairn including a 41-yard discipline objective, Houston had a 10-6 lead out of nowhere heading into the interval and a catalyst for what was to return.

One other Fairbairn discipline objective adopted earlier than the Texans went 20-6 up when Murray scored his first profession landing on a 38-yard interception return late within the third quarter.

Herbert was picked off once more on the subsequent drive when Stingley grabbed a move that was tipped off tight finish Will Dissly, organising one other Fairbairn discipline objective.

Herbert discovered McConkey for an 86-yard landing reception to chop the Chargers’ deficit to 23-12 within the fourth quarter, however Dicker’s extra-point try was blocked and returned by Ross to make it 25-12. It was the primary time such a play has been made in NFL post-season historical past.

Stingley intercepted Herbert once more late within the fourth quarter on an evening to overlook for the Chargers quarterback earlier than a 17-yard run by Mixon prolonged Houston’s benefit to an unassailable 32-12 with 4 minutes to go.

Mixon: All people counted us out

Houston Texans working again Joe Mixon: “It took a group effort. It took all 54 of us. All people performed an element, from the follow squad too.

“All people right here, we confirmed as much as work and we confirmed out. All people counted us out and we simply put our head down and started working, and acquired the dub.”

‘Consequence goes towards every part’

Sky Sports activities NFL’s Phoebe Schecter:

“This outcome has gone towards every part. Herbert is among the cleanest quarterbacks within the recreation by way of interceptions, however tonight he is thrown greater than he had executed all season.

“That is what the playoffs do to you – large levels, large moments.”

What subsequent?

The Texans will now advance to the Divisional Spherical of the playoffs subsequent weekend, the place their most certainly opponents are the back-to-back defending Tremendous Bowl champion and No 1-seeded Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Wild Card weekend continues on Sunday night when the Buffalo Payments host the Denver Broncos from 6pm, adopted by the Inexperienced Bay Packers towards the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Monday evening then sees Sam Darnold’s Minnesota Vikings tackle the Los Angeles Rams, with kickoff at 1am within the early hours of Tuesday, dwell on Sky Sports activities.