Interception barrage, including a pick-six, helps Texans bury shell-shocked Chargers
HOUSTON — Texans safety Eric Murray had a wide-open running lane to the end zone. Justin Herbert could do nothing but turn away solemnly. Somehow the Chargers’ quarterback getting a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown for the first time in his career wasn’t the low point of a season-ending loss Saturday.
Herbert had his worst game of the season at the worst time. His career-high four interceptions doomed the Chargers to a 32-12 AFC wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday at NRG Stadium. A season that was supposed to mark a new era for the maligned franchise instead ended with familiar disappointment.
The offense that was appearing to hit its stride at the right time instead showed the 108 points scored in the last three weeks were simply a mirage against struggling teams. A Houston defense that Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh called “scary good” left the Chargers shell-shocked.
Herbert had just three passes intercepted all season. He matched that number in a little more than three quarters against the Texans. After setting a franchise record for fewest interceptions thrown in a season, Herbert had multiple passes intercepted in a game for the first time since Oct. 22, 2023 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Justin Herbert throws four interceptions in Chargers’ wild-card playoff loss
🏈 Texans 32, Chargers 12 — FINAL
Justin Herbert threw a career-worst four interceptions and the Chargers’ postseason drought continued in a season-ending loss to Houston in the AFC wild-card playoffs at NRG Stadium.
It was the most interceptions in a single playoff game by a Chargers quarterback since 1995. Herbert came into the game throwing only three interceptions all season. Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had two of the Texans’ interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers haven’t won a playoff game since 2018.
Herbert completed 14 of 32 passes for 242 yards with a touchdown.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries for the Texans.
Check out the game summary from the Chargers’ loss Saturday.
Joe Mixon TD helps give Texans 32-12 lead late in fourth quarter
🏈 Texans 32, Chargers 12 — 3:42 left in the fourth quarter
Joe Mixon scored on a 17-yard run off a fourth-and-one play to give Houston a commanding lead late in the fourth quarter.
Mixon fended off a tackle attempt by Daiyan Henley and then bowled over Kristian Fulton at the goal line to score. Mixon has 106 yards in 25 carries.
The Texans converted on another fourth-and-one situation earlier in 14-play, 74-yard drive when C.J. Stroud converted with a two-yard quarterback keeper. On the next play, Mixon picked up 10 yards after fending off a tackle by Deane Leonard with a well-executed stiff-arm.
Chargers’ 86-yard touchdown leads to two-point play for Texans
🏈 Texans 25, Chargers 12 — 10:38 left in the fourth quarter
Just when it looked like things might finally be going the Chargers’ way, the Texans brought them back to reality.
Justin Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey on an 86-yard touchdown pass, but the extra-point attempt was blocked, and Houston’s D’Angelo Ross picked up the live ball and ran it back to the end zone for two points.
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker looked like he could have caught the deflected kick, but opted to knock it down, which kept the ball alive.
The Chargers’ touchdown came after Will Anderson Jr. and Mario Edwards Jr. sacked Herbert on back-to-back plays to start the drive. Herbert then found McConkey sprinting through the middle of the field.
But Ross’ return quickly turned the mood — and momentum — back into Houston’s favor.
Houston in control after Justin Herbert’s third interception
🏈 Texans 23, Chargers 6 — 12:00 left in the fourth quarter
Capitalizing on another Justin Herbert interception, Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it a three-score game in the fourth quarter.
The field goal was set up by a 54-yard interception return by Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for the Texans’ third interception. Avoiding a tackle attempt by Herbert, Stingley returned the ball to the L.A. 13.
The Chargers’ defense kept Houston out of the end zone, but it was little consolation for Herbert, who had thrown only three interceptions all season before Saturday.
Justin Herbert throws pick-six and Houston takes 20-6 lead
🏈 Texans 20, Chargers 6 — 13 seconds left in third quarter
Houston safety Eric Murray scored on a 38-yard interception return, making a perfect read off a pass from Justin Herbert intended for Ladd McConkey.
The Chargers have come up empty on their last nine possessions and have given up 20 unanswered points. Herbert, who has thrown two interceptions, has completed just 10 of 24 passes for 118 yards. The Chargers have just 148 total yards; the Texans have 341.
Texans extend their lead with another field goal
🏈 Texans 13, Chargers 6 — 4:48 left in the third quarter
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 37-yard field goal to extend Houston’s lead at the end of a 10-play, 46-yard drive marked by a Chargers interception being nullified on review.
Derwin James Jr. nearly picked off a pass in the end zone intended for tight end Dalton Schultz, but the initial ruling of an interception was overturned after a video review determined he did not have control of the ball when he hit the turf.
A personal foul penalty on Joe Mixon during the interception return resulted in a 15-yard penalty that compromised Houston’s chances to find the end zone. But that didn’t stop C.J. Stroud on completing passes to Mixon and Diontae Johnson of 13 and 12 yards, respectively, to move back into field-goal range.
Stroud has completed 20 of 30 passes for 271 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
Can Justin Herbert and the Chargers respond?
After another Houston turnover, Chargers fail to convert on fourth down
🏈 Texans 10, Chargers 6 — 7:48 left in the third quarter
Justin Herbert and the Chargers are continuing to struggle against the Houston defense.
The Chargers failed to convert on fourth-and-two at the Houston 33, with Herbert unable to connect with wide receiver Quentin Johnston on a short pass. Even if Johnston caught the ball, Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. likely still would have brought down Johnston behind the line for a loss.
The scoreless drive started when Chargers safety Tony Jefferson stripped the ball out of Houston running back Joe Mixon’s hands and recovered the fumble. It was Mixon’s first lost fumble in 1,082 touches and Houston’s third turnover of the game.
On the ensuing Houston possession after the Chargers’ failed drive, cornerback Cam Hart sustained a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
Chargers trail Texans at halftime after lackluster second quarter
🏈 Texans 10, Chargers 6 — HALFTIME
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 41-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half to extend the Texans’ lead after another three-and-out by the Chargers’ offense.
Houston scored all of its points in the final minute of the half after putting together drives of 99 and 45 yards.
A 27-yard run by Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud helped set up the field goal.
After finding some success on offense in the first quarter, Justin Herbert and the Chargers struggled to generate anything in the second quarter. The last five Chargers possessions have ended with punts and an interception.
Herbert finished the half connecting on only one of his last nine pass attempts. He has completed eight of 20 passes for 97 yards so far.
After the Texans scored a touchdown with 58 seconds left in the half, the Chargers only used 31 seconds of game time on its ensuing possession, giving Houston the ball back — and it capitalized by tacking on a field goal.
Stroud has completed 14 of 23 passes for 180 yards, with a touchdown and interception.
The Texans have 214 total yards, and the Chargers have 123.
Texans take lead off 99-yard drive fueled by two big plays
🏈 Texans 7, Chargers 6 — 58 seconds left in the first half
C.J. Stroud connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins in the final minute of the first half to complete a 13-play, 99-yard drive fueled by two huge plays.
Early in the drive on third-and-16, Stroud picked up a bouncing ball off a bad snap, rolled out, and with several Chargers players chasing him, completed a 34-yard pass wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.
Two plays later, Stroud struck again with a 37-yard pass to Collins to put the ball on the L.A. 13.
The play set up the touchdown pass four plays later when Stroud found Collins on third-and-11. Until the scoring drive, Houston had just 70 total yards on its first five possessions, which ended in three punts and two turnovers.
Chargers and Texans fail to capitalize on interceptions
🏈 Chargers 6, Texans 0 — 9:30 left in the second quarter
The Chargers and Texans failed to capitalize on opportunities in the second quarter brought about by their respective defenses.
Chargers cornerback Deane Leonard intercepted a lobbing pass from C.J. Stroud that appeared to be a miscommunication or a poor attempt to throw away the ball.
On the very next play, Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter picked off a pass from Justin Herbert intended for Quentin Johnston. Houston then went three-and-out after Stroud was sacked by Khalil Mack for an eight-yard loss.
Herbert has completed seven of 14 passes for 78 yards. Stroud has completed six of 11 passes for 66 yards. The Chargers have 102 total yards, the Texans have 59.
Chargers hold on to 6-0 lead after first quarter
🏈 Chargers 6, Texans 0 — End of the first quarter
The Houston defense is finding ways to pressure on Justin Herbert — and limit the Chargers’ offense.
After the Chargers held the Texans to three-and-out on their second possession, the Chargers didn’t fare much better. Herbert threw three incomplete passes, with two of them fluttering somewhat perilously after he was hit as he threw.
D’Angelo Ross then partially blocked a Chargers punt, which was limited to 33 yards — and only after taking a very favorable Chargers bounce.
Denzel Perryman sustained a left elbow injury and is questionable to return.
Chargers take 6-0 lead after Derwin James Jr. fumble recovery
🏈 Chargers 6, Texans 0 — 6:35 left in the first quarter
Capitalizing on a Derwin James Jr. fumble recovery, the Chargers doubled their early lead on a 39-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker.
On the first play from scrimmage for the Texans’ offense, Chargers safety Alohi Gilman stripped the ball away receiver John Metchie III after a short catch, and James pounced on it.
Getting the ball at the Houston 33, the Chargers struggled to move the ball against the Texans’ defense. Will Anderson Jr. sacked Justin Herbert before a pair of Herbert incompletions led to the field-goal try.
Chargers take early lead on Cameron Dicker field goal
🏈 Chargers 3, Texans 0 — 9:37 left in the first quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Chargers after a good-looking opening drive was halted by the Texans’ defense inside the red zone.
J.K. Dobbins had a pair of eight-yard runs over his first three carries and Ladd McConkey caught a 10-yard pass at the beginning of the 10-play, 57-yard drive.
Under pressure, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert found Tucker Fisk on a 15-yard pass, with the 285-pound tight end stretching to haul in the pass in front of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Herbert completed four of five passes for 41 yards.
NFL wild-card playoff picks: Rams are last chance to bring a wild-card win to L.A.
Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 12-4 (.750); season 189-83 (.695). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-7 (.563); season 144-126-2 (.533). Times Pacific. TV channels are Los Angeles local.
No. 5 Chargers at No. 4 Houston
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. TV: Channel 2 (CBS), Paramount+
Hernández: These aren’t your daddy’s Chargers. Jim Harbaugh has team primed for playoff run
LAS VEGAS — Watching Justin Herbert scramble for 41 yards in the Chargers’ regular-season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, how could you not think it?
Watching Quentin Johnston catch everything Herbert threw in his vicinity, how could you not feel it?
This will be the season Justin Herbert finally wins his first playoff game — and maybe even his second.
The kind of postseason run that once was believed to be another year or two away suddenly feels within reach for Herbert and his team, which is entering the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 5 seed with a winnable wild-card game ahead against the Houston Texans.
Chargers’ decimated secondary survived because Derwin James Jr. ‘can make it right’
A second safety went on injured reserve in as many weeks. The Chargers were calling on practice squad players who hadn’t even had a week’s worth of practices to fill in.
With the pressure of the postseason looming, how did Jim Harbaugh feel about the position that was scraping the bottom of the team’s personnel barrel?
“Tremendous confidence,” the Chargers coach said with a proud smile. “We’re talking about Derwin James’ position.”
The star safety has re-established himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs, earning a fourth Pro Bowl nomination and notching a career-best 5½ sacks while anchoring a secondary that has started 10 players.
Trey Pipkins III will not play for Chargers vs. Texans in wild-card playoffs
The Chargers will be without right guard Trey Pipkins III in their wild-card game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, with the offensive lineman was announced as inactive because of an oblique injury. Pipkins was questionable going into the game.
Jamaree Salyer will start at right guard for the second consecutive game. Salyer, who has rotated into the lineup throughout the season, started last week because of a pregame injury to left tackle Rashawn Slater, which shuffled the offensive line and put Pipkins at right tackle and Joe Alt at left tackle.
Slater (knee) will return to the starting lineup Saturday as the Chargers try to win their first playoff game since 2018.
Running back J.K. Dobbins (ankle), receiver Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) were all questionable but will play. With Dobbins back in the lineup, the Chargers put running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson on the inactive list. The Chargers have three running backs active with Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins.
Other Chargers inactives: QB Easton Stick (third quarterback), WR Joshua Palmer (foot), TE Hayden Hurst, DL Justin Eboigbe
Texans inactives: LB Devin White, DE Jerry Hughes, OG Nick Broeker, OG Shaq Mason, DT Kurt Hinish
Chargers fortify rushing attack with return of Gus Edwards, addition of Ezekiel Elliott
For the first time in two weeks, the Chargers had both of their leading rushers on the practice field Tuesday, and the team didn’t stop at stocking the backfield with only J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott made his Chargers practice debut Tuesday after being signed to the practice squad. The Chargers made the move official while releasing receiver Laviska Shenault.
With the Cowboys well outside of the postseason picture, Elliott asked to be released after playing 15 games for the team that drafted him fourth overall in 2016. Three seasons removed from his last 1,000-yard campaign, the 29-year-old was searching for an opportunity to compete for a championship in the waning years of his career.
Texans considered easier playoff opponent for Chargers, but ‘They’ve got playmakers’
LAS VEGAS — Derwin James Jr. breaks every Chargers huddle with a simple direction.
“Be the best,” the star safety’s teammates respond in unison.
On Sunday, the Chargers lived up to their daily proclamation, cementing themselves as the NFL’s top defense in points allowed while finishing the regular season with a 34-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Allowing an average of 17.7 points per game, the Chargers (11-6) edged the Philadelphia Eagles, who held the New York Giants to 13 points in Week 18 and permitted 17.8 points per game.
Within a season, GM Joe Hortiz changed Chargers’ DNA: ‘Everybody’s just, like, fighters’
Jim Harbaugh just got done high-fiving all of his players. He saved a special greeting for Joe Hortiz.
In the immediate aftermath of the Chargers clinching their first playoff berth since 2022, the coach wrapped the general manager in a tight, two-armed hug in the locker room.
“Love you!” Harbaugh shouted at Hortiz with both hands on his shoulders. They embraced again.
Harbaugh’s influence has been the headline as the Chargers have tried to ditch their reputation of mediocrity. The eccentric coach would like his players to get the credit for changing the culture.
Chargers vs. Houston Texans: How to watch, predictions and betting odds
For three straight weeks, the Chargers have shared emphatic high fives in their celebratory post-game locker room. They sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” They shout that “nooo-body” has it better than them.
The Chargers feel as if they’re having too much fun for Saturday’s AFC wild-card playoff game to be the end.
“We’re not ready for this to be our last game,” cornerback Kristian Fulton said. “We want to show that our goal is the Super Bowl. A lot of people probably don’t think we can do it, so we’re just ready to show the world.”
The Chargers (11-6) haven’t won a playoff game since 2018, but have completed the franchise’s best single-season turnaround in two decades. They surged through the end of the regular season with a three-game winning streak to vault from the seventh seed to the fifth, which pitted them against the Houston Texans (10-7).