Houston Texans Hold Off Chargers in Thrilling 20-16 Victory
What began as a blowout, ended as a down-to-the-wire finish Saturday, as the Houston Texans held off the Chargers with a 20-16 victory at SoFi Stadium. The outcome rippled through the AFC, with the Denver Broncos clinching the AFC West, and the Indianapolis Colts eliminated from playoff contention. The Broncos are the first team other than Kansas City to win the division in the past decade.
The Chargers (11-5), who had won four in a row, made some uncharacteristic mistakes to fritter away scoring chances. Justin Herbert, who otherwise had a tremendous and gutty game, was intercepted a yard away from the end zone in the first half. Cameron Dicker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed for the first time in his career inside of 40 yards and in the fourth quarter hooked an extra-point try, only the fourth PAT miss of his career.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is hit by Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. during the second half Saturday. Stingley was injured on the play.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Uncharacteristic Mistakes Cost Chargers
Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards with a touchdown and interception. Houston’s C.J. Stroud completed 16 of 28 for 244 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Texans (11-5), who got off to an 0-3 start this season, came into Saturday’s game riding a seven-game winning streak.
They played host to the Chargers in the first round of the playoffs last season and collected a 32-12 victory, intercepting Herbert four times. On Saturday, Herbert kept the Chargers in the game, absorbing hits from every angle yet still throwing a one-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II at the end of the third quarter and setting up another touchdown, a five-yard run by rookie Omarion Hampton, with 3:37 left in the fourth.
