Chargers can't hold back Texans' second-half surge in loss

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.

Staff Writer

Sept. 22, 2019 4:55 PM PT

They won last year with late-game offense and defense, on last-play kicks and final-gasp tips. They won just about every way possible, usually with the time short and the drama high.

In 2018, the Chargers won by making the most important plays at the most crucial moments. That seems like a long time ago now, these grinding, gnawing defeats capable of ruining a season — and fast.

The Chargers lost Sunday to Houston 27-20 when, for the second consecutive weekend, they failed to execute late when executing late was the only remaining path to victory.

“We’re not the type of team that gets in those situations and folds,” safety Rayshawn Jenkins said. “I expect us to come out on top in those situations. It’s disappointing to have a result like that.”

A week ago in Detroit, the Chargers self-destructed in a parade of glaring gaffes and unfulfilled opportunities.

Against the Texans at Dignity Health Sports Park, they blew a 10-point halftime lead, lost two potential game-altering plays to penalties and simply couldn’t lock their arms around quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“We can’t allow certain things to keep happening,” linebacker Thomas Davis said. “We just gotta be better. We just gotta execute better.”

Including the playoffs, the Chargers were 7-1 last season in one-score games. That’s all they’ve played so far in 2019, and they’re 1-2.

As a few players pointed out afterward, they could almost as easily be 3-0. Then again, they also could be 0-3, their season-opening victory over Indianapolis requiring overtime.

“We have to figure out a way to finish,” coach Anthony Lynn said. “Hell, when we’re up by 10, I’m almost nervous. When we’re down, I’m OK because I know what these men are going to do.”

The Chargers were up 17-7 entering the third quarter Sunday and then everything went sour.

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Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin drops a pass in front of Houston Texans free safety Tashaun Gipson late in the game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

2/14

Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins leaps into the stands after scoring on a 53-yard reception against the Chargers in the fourth quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen celebrates as he scores on a 12-yard touchdown pass against the Houston Texans in the second quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is upended by Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby after scrambling for eight yards in the final minutes of the game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu, left, grabs the face mask of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked by Houston Texans defensive ends J.J. Watt, left, and D.J. Reader during the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen stays inbounds for a seven-yard touchdown reception in front of Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph in the first quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the first half. (Getty Images)

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Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tries to run past Chargers linebacker Thomas Davis, left, and defensive tackle Justin Jones during the first half. (Getty Images)

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Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson shouts instructions to wide receiver Kenny Stills during the second quarter. (Getty Images)

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Chargers running back Austin Ekeler finds an opening in the Houston Texans’ defense on a carry in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tries to evade a sack by Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus before he ends up fumbling the ball away during a play in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers running back Justin Jackson carries the ball against the Houston Texans. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers walks off the field in the final moments of the Chargers’ 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Houston scored the next 20 points, the Chargers unable to reach the end zone after halftime for the second game in a row.

They did rally to close to within a touchdown on a 43-yard field goal by Ty Long midway through the fourth quarter. After the defense forced a punt, quarterback Philip Rivers and the offense returned with a chance to pull even.

Starting on their 16-yard line with 4:19 to go, the Chargers converted a pair of fourth downs and gained three first downs. Rivers completed four passes — each to Keenan Allen — for 50 yards. But he also was sacked once and, unable to find an open receiver, twice forced to scramble.

Travis Benjamin, sprinting over the goal line, couldn’t hold on to a pass that would have been a 42-yard touchdown.

A 17-yard completion to Mike Williams — a play that would have put the Chargers at the Houston seven-yard line — was wiped out by a holding call on left tackle Trent Scott.

Finally, having stalled at the Texans’ 34, Rivers’ final two attempts — first to Williams on third down and then to Dontrelle Inman on fourth — fell incomplete and the defeat was official.

“Really good disciplined, fundamental teams don’t make the mistakes we’re making right now,” Davis said. “We still have a chance to right those wrongs. That’s something we have to do, and we have to do it quickly.”

The Chargers hadn’t lost back-to-back games since the middle of the 2017 season.

But last season’s team managed to mostly avoid the crushing penalties such as the late holding call on Scott and another holding call — this one on Dan Feeney — that nullified a six-yard touchdown run by Justin Jackson in the second quarter. (A pair of offsetting penalties also disallowed an interception by Jenkins.)

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is upended by Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby after scrambling for a first down in the fourth quarter.

The Chargers have lost three touchdowns because of penalties over the past two games.

“As a coaching staff, we gotta get that right,” Lynn said. “We plan on getting that right.”

Allen finished with 13 receptions for 183 yards and both of the Chargers’ touchdowns. Rivers was 31 of 46 for 318 yards. But it was the other quarterback who ultimately made the deciding plays.

Watson threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns and tormented the Chargers with his elusiveness. They sacked him twice despite having repeated and obvious chances for many more.

“Their quarterback played better than our whole defense,” Lynn said. “He was a giant all day.”

So, for the second straight season, the Chargers are 1-2. Their defeats last September came against Kansas City and the Rams, both eventual playoff teams. They responded by winning their next six games and 11 of their final 13 to advance to the postseason.

Lynn said that performance “means absolutely nothing” as it relates to these Chargers. It’s a different group, a different season.

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen walks off the field at the end of a 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

“It’s not like these teams are just coming in here and doing whatever to us,” Jenkins said. “We’re beating ourselves at the end of the game. We have to come together and find our own identity. It’ll happen. We’re close.”

The Chargers have been close for two consecutive weeks. Just not close enough.