HOUSTON — The Chargers couldn’t run, couldn’t pass, couldn’t stop improvising Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and couldn’t win their AFC wild-card game Saturday at NRG Stadium. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw a career-high four interceptions, one more than during 17 regular-season games.
Herbert and the Chargers were defeated 32-12, humbled for their second consecutive playoff game, following their come-from-ahead 31-30 loss two years ago to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They didn’t squander a 27-point lead, as they did on Jan. 14, 2023, but they didn’t play to their regular-season standards.
Not even close.
In the end, Jim Harbaugh’s first playoff game as their coach was a clunker.
Nothing summarized their repeated bungling during their third playoff loss in four games since moving to Los Angeles from San Diego than a blocked extra point that Houston’s D’Angelo Ross alertly returned for a 2-point conversion to give the Texans a 25-12 with 10:38 remaining.
Herbert had just thrown an 86-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey to cut the Texans’ lead to 23-12, but Cameron Dicker’s extra point was blocked and, instead of securing the loose ball, he batted it down and into the hands of Ross. No one came within yards of Ross as he raced down the field.
The Chargers trailed 10-6 by halftime after controlling the game for most of the first two quarters. The Chargers led by only 6-0 after Dicker kicked field goals of 35 and 39 yards on their first two possessions. The Texans couldn’t run and couldn’t pass effectively until a late drive in the second half.
Stroud, the former Rancho Cucamonga High star, threw an ill-advised pass to no one in particular that Chargers defensive Deane Leonard intercepted at the Texans’ 40-yard line. Herbert then threw an ill-advised pass intended for Quentin Johnston that Houston’s Kamari Lassiter picked off at his own 10-yard line.
Only after they were pinned at their own 1-yard line did the Texans begin to move the ball. It took six plays for them to get from the 1 to the 11, but then Stroud began to make things happen that likely didn’t have a page in the Texans’ playbook. The Chargers appeared flummoxed.
First, Stroud fumbled a snap in his own end zone, recovered the ball on the hop and then delivered a 34-yard strike to Xavier Hutchinson, giving the Texans a first down at the Chargers’ 49. Five plays later, Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 58 seconds left in the half.
It seemed like plenty of time for Herbert to drive the Chargers to a go-ahead field goal or a touchdown. Instead, the Chargers’ drive stalled and JK Scott punted the ball away, giving the Texans one more opportunity. Ka’imi Fairbairn made it 10-6 with a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half.
Unlike the Chargers’ most recent opponents, the Texans’ defense was exceptional while defending against Herbert’s passing. Their secondary blanketed the Chargers’ receivers and their defensive front, including defensive end Will Anderson Jr., pressured Herbert in the pocket.
Then again, the Texans’ defense should in no way be compared with that of the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, teams the Chargers shredded for an average of 36 points per game during a three-game winning streak to end the regular season.
Fairbairn kicked a 37-yard field goal and safety Eric Murray returned Herbert’s overthrown pass intended for McConkey 38 yards for a touchdown as the Texans’ lead ballooned to 20-6 entering the fourth quarter. Herbert had thrown only three interceptions during the regular season.
Herbert’s third interception wasn’t his fault as tight end Will Dissly literally dropped a catchable pass into the waiting hands of Derek Stingley Jr., who returned it 55 yards to the Chargers’ 13-yard line. The Texans’ drive stalled and Fairbairn kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 23-6.
More to come on this story.