Texans defence stuns Chargers in NFL play-offs

The Houston Texans' defense delivered a stunning performance, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers and advancing to the second round of the NFL playoffs. In this game, the Texans' defense caused significant problems for the Chargers, ultimately securing a 32-12 victory.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had only been intercepted three times in 17 regular-season games. However, he was intercepted four times in Saturday's game, which allowed the Texans to come back from a deficit and get off to a good start in the wild-card weekend.

The first half saw strong defensive performances from both sides, but the game suddenly intensified at Houston's home stadium before halftime. The Texans took a 10-6 lead before the half ended. Subsequently, the Texans intercepted Herbert's passes twice in a row, with the first interception resulting in a touchdown, making the score 20-6, and the second leading to a field goal opportunity.

Despite the Los Angeles Chargers' attempts to rally, Joe Mixon's rushing touchdown sealed the victory for the Texans, who successfully advanced to next week's divisional round. This season, Herbert became only the second player in NFL history to attempt at least 500 passes and have no more than 3 interceptions. The Chargers finished the season strong, winning their last three games and ending with an 11-6 record, better than the Texans' 10-7.

At the start of the game, the Los Angeles Chargers took a 6-0 lead with field goals on their first two possessions. But with two minutes left in the first half, Houston quarterback CJ Stroud fumbled the ball in his own end zone, but he quickly recovered it and ran to the right, finding Xavier Hutchinson in the middle of the field. Then, Stroud threw a 37-yard pass to Nico Collins, and the two connected again for a touchdown, giving the Texans their first lead, and they benefited from home-field advantage as division champions.

The Chargers regained possession with 58 seconds left in the first half, but the Texans' defense forced them into a three-and-out, and Stroud helped the Texans get into field goal range, where Ka'imi Fairbairn was successful. In the second half, Fairbairn made another field goal. Then, a pass from Herbert to Ladd McConkey was slightly high, allowing safety Eric Murray to return it 38 yards for a touchdown. After Fairbairn's third field goal, Herbert found McConkey in the middle of the field, who ran 86 yards for a touchdown, but the Chargers' extra point attempt failed.

Cameron Dicker's extra point attempt was blocked, and the Texans' D'Angelo Ross picked up the loose ball and ran into the Chargers' end zone, making the score 25-12. Mixon rushed for a 17-yard touchdown, ultimately rushing for 106 yards, while Collins had 122 receiving yards, and Derek Stingley Jr. had two interceptions, all contributing to the Texans' victory.