The Houston Texans left Los Angeles with a statement win Sunday, rolling past the Chargers 44-22 and moving to 3-5 in the process. It was the kind of all-around performance that can reset a season, with Houston getting it done through the air, on defense, and on special teams.
C.J. Stroud was the engine for the Texans’ offense, putting together a sharp afternoon by completing 21 of 35 passes for 384 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He spread the ball around and kept the Chargers chasing all game long.
Kayshon Boutte was the biggest beneficiary, hauling in four catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Tank Dell added four receptions for 105 yards and his first touchdown since returning.
Nico Collins finished with four catches for 55 yards and a very impressive touchdown grab, while Dalton Schultz contributed two receptions for 42 yards. Xavier Hutchinson chipped in three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had two receptions for 20 yards.
Houston’s passing game was the clear difference, though the ground attack did enough to stay balanced. The Texans ran the ball 28 times for 104 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
Defensively, Houston turned the game into a nightmare for Justin Herbert. The Texans sacked the Chargers quarterback eight times and hit him seven more, never letting Los Angeles settle in offensively. Through three quarters, Houston had held the Chargers to just nine points, all on field goals.
The fourth quarter brought a little more life from the Chargers. Quentin Johnston broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown from Herbert, ending Los Angeles’ streak of 37 consecutive drives without a touchdown. Herbert was then pulled, and backup DJ Uiagalelei came in and led a drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Darius Davis.
Even with that late push, the Texans’ defense still made plenty of impact. Derek Stingley intercepted Herbert, and Houston also forced a fumble on Keaton Mitchell, with Calen Bullock recovering after Henry To’o To’o created the turnover.
Los Angeles finished with 193 passing yards from Herbert and 24 from Uiagalelei. On the ground, the Chargers ran 30 times for 148 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
Ka’imi Fairbairn was perfect as well, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points.
With the win, the Texans now sit at 3-5 and are trying to build momentum for a postseason push, with a chance to catch the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South. For one afternoon, Houston looked sharp in every phase, and that’s exactly the kind of complete game a team wants when it’s trying to climb back into the race.
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Tank Dell Just Gave Texans Fans A Reason To Get Excited
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Dell finished the first half with two catches for 66 yards and a score, a promising start for a player still working his way back into game shape. DeMeco Ryans said Dells workload should keep growing as he continues to recover and stack reps, which makes this early burst feel like more than a one-off highlight for a team that could use every bit of explosiveness it can get. [Read more 🡒]