INGLEWOOD, CA– The Houston Texans have the Los Angeles Chargers number. Snapping the Chargers four game winning streak on Saturday, December 27th, the Texans held on for a pivotal road win 20-16 at Sofi Stadium.
It was a crushing loss for the Los Angeles Chargers- as Denver clinched the AFC West division- the Bolts made several costly miscues which cost them the game.
From the kickoff, Houston set the tone early with two touchdowns on their first two drives. Hitting two long touchdowns on a defense that rarely gives up deep passes, and that was too much for the Chargers to overcome.
It’s not fun going against the Texans’ fierce defense when Houston has a lead.
It’s deflating,” safety Derwin James Jr. said of the defensive start. “We were focused. Walkthrough was perfect before the game. Game plan, perfect practice this week. But it comes down to taking the test.”
Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a pass to receiver Jaylin Noel for a 43-yard touchdown. The Chargers were down 14-0 before six minutes of game time had elapsed.
While the Chargers offense and kicking game struggled, Justin Herbert hit Quentin Johnson for a 60-yard gain, then on the next play a pass went off Oronde Gadsden II’s hands and was intercepted.
It was disappointing the Chargers at 11-5, fell short in this marquee matchup. The Bolts were surprisingly flat in the first half.
The Chargers got it right back on a terrible interception by Stroud but Cameron Dicker, who was 68 of 68 in his career on field-goal attempts within 40 yards, missed a 32-yard attempt wide right.
Dicker was named to the Pro Bowl recently; he also missed a point after touchdown kick.. These crucial missed kicks would have been worth 4 points, the difference in the outcome.
The Chargers got a touchdown back on a run by rookie Omarion Hampton, and the Chargers we’re still alive. A questionable call prevented the Chargers from ever touching the ball again, Herbert never got one final opportunity to lead them to victory.
The Chargers thought they had forced a punt right before the two-minute warning, but a questionable illegal contact penalty on cornerback Tarheeb Still wiped out a third-down sack and gave Houston a first down.
The Chargers played better after a terrible start, but they once again had trouble protecting the quarterback, the special teams were a major letdown and the two big plays they allowed early in the game led to the loss.
Despite the loss, the Chargers are still in the Playoffs with plenty to prove. Next week regular season finale against the Broncos in Mile High remains an important game for playoff seeding.
They are battling for a Wild Card spot (currently No. 6 or 7 seed) against teams like the Bills and Texans, needing a win and some help for a better seed.
Los Angeles travels to Denver to take on the Broncos on Sunday, January 4th.