(Inglewood) CJ Stroud made two long touchdown passes in the Texans’ first two possessions and Houston qualified for the playoffs with a 20-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
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The Texans (11-5) have won eight games in a row. The Texas club will thus participate in the playoffs at the end of a third consecutive season for the first time in its history.
The Chargers (11-5) for their part suffered a first setback in five games, which allowed the Denver Broncos to win the title in the West section of the American. The Californian team won the first duel between the two teams during the third week and the second, during the 18e week, would have been decisive for the title without this defeat against the Texans.
It was also the Texans who eliminated the Chargers in the playoffs last winter.
Stroud’s two explosive plays in the first quarter gave the Texans a 14-0 lead. On his first pass of the game, he found Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown. The quarterback then had plenty of time to reach Jaylin Noel for a 43-yard touchdown.
The Chargers had only given up one touchdown pass of at least 40 yards in their last 15 games.
Stroud completed his first six passes of the game. He completed 16 of 28 passes for 244 yards, with two interceptions.
The Texans’ defensive unit had sacks on third downs in the Chargers’ first two possessions. The local favorites did not get a first down in their first three offensive series.
Playing his third game since suffering a broken left hand, Justin Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He suffered five sacks.
Derwin James Jr. intercepted a pass from Stroud in the second quarter, but the Chargers had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker to make it 14-3. The other interception did not allow them to score any points.
Herbert was intercepted by Azeez Al-Shaair at the Texans one-yard line. The ball, intended for Oronde Gadsden, slipped out of his hands and Al-Shaair recovered it, thus signing his second interception of the season.
Dicker missed a field goal from less than 40 yards for the first time in his career just before halftime. He also missed a conversion after an Omarion Hamption rushing touchdown that cut the lead to 20-16 on the Chargers’ final possession.
Ka’imi Fairbairn made field goals of 41 and 44 yards for the Texans.
Gadsden scored the Chargers’ other touchdown.
