NFL play-offs: Houston Texans beat Los Angeles Chargers on Wildcard Weekend
2025-01-12
Category: sports

The Houston Texans' defence stunned the Los Angeles Chargers to progress to week two of the NFL play-offs.Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was intercepted just three times during the 17-game regular season.But he was intercepted four times on Saturday alone as the Texans came from behind to kick off Wildcard Weekend with a 32-12 victory.Defences dominated the first half in Houston, before the game burst into life with the hosts snatching a 10-6 lead right before half-time.The Texans then intercepted Herbert on successive drives, returning the first for a touchdown to go 20-6 up late in the third quarter and adding a field goal from the latter.Los Angeles rallied but Joe Mixon ran in Houston's second offensive touchdown to book their spot in next week's Divisional Round.Live text coverage - Ravens host Steelers after Texans stun Chargers
This season Herbert became just the second player in NFL history with at least 500 pass attempts and three or fewer interceptions.He finished strongly, with the Chargers winning their last three games to end with a 11-6 record, which was better than Houston's (10-7).After kicking field goals on their first two possessions, Los Angeles led 6-0 until a remarkable play just over two minutes before half-time.Houston quarterback CJ Stroud fumbled a snap right in front of his own end zone but recovered it before scrambling to the right and picking out Xavier Hutchinson on halfway.Stroud followed that up with a 37-yard pass to Nico Collins and the pair connected again for the opening touchdown for Houston, who had home advantage after winning their division.The Chargers got the ball back with 58 seconds left in the half yet the Texans' defence forced them to go three-and-out and Stroud got Houston into field-goal range for Ka'imi Fairbairn to convert.Fairbairn kicked another field goal after half-time before Herbert's pass towards Ladd McConkey was a little high, allowing safety Eric Murray to run it back for a 38-yard score.After Fairbairn's third field goal, Herbert found McConkey on halfway and he streaked clear for an 86-yard touchdown, but Los Angeles' attempt at an extra point summed up their night.Cameron Dicker's kick was blocked and Houston's D'Angelo Ross recovered the loose ball to run it into the Chargers' endzone and make it 25-12.Mixon ran in a 17-yard touchdown to finish with 106 rushing yards while Collins had 122 receiving yards and Derek Stingley Jr claimed two interceptions.