Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – C.J. Stroud threw two early touchdown passes and the Houston Texans advanced to the NFL playoffs with a 20-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. The Texans (11-5) stretched their win streak to eight games while the Chargers (11-5) lost for only the second time in nine contests. Houston’s victory eliminated the Indianapolis Colts from the playoff hunt while the Chargers’ loss clinched the AFC West division title for the Denver Broncos, who own the NFL’s best record at 13-3.
“They made some changes in the second half and made it a challenge but that’s what you get in these type of games,” Stroud said. “They have a good defense but we weathered the storm and found a way to get a W.” Stroud completed 16-of-28 passes for 244 yards and Houston’s top-ranked scoring defense made five sacks, forced two turnovers and silenced the Chargers for most of the contest. “I’m so proud of those guys,” Stroud said. “They’ve held it down all year. We’re built tough. We practice hard.”
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Stroud connected with Jayden Higgins on a 75-yard touchdown pass and made a 43-yard touchdown toss to Jaylin Noel for a 14-0 Texans lead only 5:43 into the game. No NFL quarterback had made two TD passes over 40 yards in a first quarter since Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in 2020. No two Chargers rookies had caught touchdown passes over 40 yards in the same game since 1974. Derwin James intercepted a Stroud pass to set up a 27-yard Cameron Dicker field goal that lifted the Chargers within 14-3 at half-time.
Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 41-yard field goal but Los Angeles answered on Justin Herbert’s one-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden, pulling the Chargers within 17-10 entering the fourth quarter. Fairbairn added a 44-yard field goal for the Texans before Omarion Hampton’s five-yard touchdown run pulled the Chargers within 20-16, but Dicker missed the conversion kick and Houston ran out the clock to seal victory.
Other AFC teams that have secured playoff berths are Denver, New England, Jacksonville, Buffalo, and the Los Angeles Chargers. NFC clubs to reach the postseason are Green Bay, Seattle, San Francisco, defending champion Philadelphia, Chicago, and the Los Angeles Rams. Carolina can clinch the NFC South title and last NFC playoff berth with a victory over Seattle and a Tampa Bay loss at Miami on Sunday.
In a later game, the Baltimore Ravens visit Green Bay needing a victory to sustain their playoff hopes. Anything less gives the Pittsburgh Steelers the AFC North division title and a playoff spot. A loss by the Packers, who made the playoffs when Detroit lost on Thursday, would hand the NFC North title to Chicago. Green Bay starting quarterback Jordan Love and his Baltimore counterpart, Lamar Jackson, have both been ruled out because of injury.
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