Houston (AFP) – The Houston Texans took advantage of an error-strewn performance from the Los Angeles Chargers to win the opening AFC wild card game of the NFL playoffs 32-12 on Saturday. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who had thrown just three interceptions in the regular season, threw four picks and was sacked four times in what was a disastrous display from the Los Angeles offense.
The Texans trailed by two field goals with less than a minute left in the first half, but then the momentum of the game shifted. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud fumbled a snap but recovered the ball and then scrambled to throw a 34-yard pass to Xavier Hutchinson. On the next down, Stroud made another big pass, connecting with Nico Collins on a 37-yard throw before ending the drive by zipping a 13-yard touchdown pass to Collins.
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The Chargers were forced to punt on the next possession, and Stroud took Houston 45 yards down the field to set up Ka’imi Fairbairn for a 41-yard field goal which sent the Texans into halftime with a 10-6 lead. That ending to the half was a sign of things to come for the Chargers, with the Texans getting out of a 2nd and 40 situation to enable Fairbairn to kick another field goal.
The decisive moment came when Herbert, trying to find Ladd McConkey, was picked off by Eric Murray, who raced 38 yards into the end zone to open up a 14-point lead for the home side. Herbert threw another interception on the next play, with Derek Stingley returning the ball to the LA 13-yard line and the Texans adding another field goal.
Herbert gave his team some hope when he found McConkey down the middle, and the rookie receiver raced away for an 86-yard score. But incredibly, disaster struck the Chargers again. Cameron Dicker’s point after kick was blocked, and the kicker attempted to bat the loose ball away, saw D’Angelo Ross recover and sprint down to the end zone for two points for the Texans.
Running back Joe Mixon, who put up 106 yards on the ground, then wrapped up the win with a 17-yard rushing touchdown. Stroud threw for 282 yards and a touchdown, with Collins putting up 122 yards on seven receptions. McConkey had 197 yards on nine receptions, while Herbert ended with 14 of 32 passes completed, 242 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Later on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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