The Texans walked into halftime with a 24-9 lead and a defense that has made life miserable for the Chargers all night.
Los Angeles has now gone 34 possessions without finding the end zone, with its last touchdown coming when Kimani Vidal broke loose for a 42-yard score with 57 seconds left in the third quarter of an Oct. 11 loss to the Broncos. Against Houston, the Chargers have been forced to settle for three Cameron Dicker field goals from 52, 33 and 43 yards.
Houston’s defense has been relentless. The Texans have limited the Chargers to 98 yards and brought down Justin Herbert four times, with Sheldon Rankins accounting for two of those sacks.
The final punch of the half came from C.J. Stroud and Kayshon Boutte. With 31 seconds left before the break, Stroud hit Boutte for a 12-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play, 76-yard march that pushed Houston further in control.
Stroud has been sharp throughout the first two quarters, going 15 of 24 for 230 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as the Texans piled up 267 total yards.
Tank Dell also delivered a big moment, scoring his first touchdown since the 2024 season, 687 days ago, on a 63-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline. Dell missed the 2025 season and six games this season while working back from the knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign.
Dell has two catches for 66 yards, while Boutte has two receptions for 47 yards. Woody Marks has added 26 yards on seven carries.
For Los Angeles, Herbert is 9 of 17 for 63 yards, and one of his top targets, Ladd McConkey, has not played after dealing with back spasms in pregame warmups.
In Other News...
Texans Trade Deadline Push Now Centers On One Surprising Upgrade
As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Texans search for help has started to focus on an area that could shape the rest of their season: the offensive line. Houston has been linked in speculation to Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson, a name that stands out because he would represent more than a routine depth add. He is the kind of interior upgrade that can change how a front five functions, especially for a team trying to steady its protection and keep its offense on schedule.
The fit makes enough sense to keep the idea alive, but it remains just that for now. Philadelphia would have to decide whether it makes sense to move a player of Dickersons caliber, and Houston would have to weigh the cost against the urgency of improving up front. For the Texans, this is the sort of deadline conversation that says plenty about where they see the roster, even if no deal has been reported. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face One Big Trade Deadline Question In The Backfield
The Texans are doing what plenty of teams do when the trade deadline starts creeping closer: taking a hard look at the backfield and seeing what might be available. Houston has reportedly checked on running backs around the league, and the search appears aimed less at making a splash than at finding a useful addition who can help steady the position for the stretch run.
Names like Devin Singletary and Breece Hall have come up as possible fits for what the Texans need, while the biggest names on the market would likely take more than Houston wants to spend. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry would all come with a steep price, which is why this feels more like a depth play than a chase for a headline-grabbing upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Could Still Move An Underused Piece Before The Deadline
With the NFL trade deadline closing in, the Texans still have not made a move, but the conversation around their roster has not gone quiet. Four names have surfaced as possible trade candidates, including offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, along with quarterback Davis Mills, whose role and contract situation keep him in the mix as teams weigh what they need and what Houston might be willing to discuss.
Mills is the most intriguing piece in that group because he has been part of the Texans' quarterback picture without being a central figure in it. Whether Houston decides to explore a deal or simply keep its depth intact, the next few days will reveal how aggressively the team wants to balance flexibility against the value of holding onto experienced depth. [Read more 🡒]