Texans Silence Doubters, Dominate Chargers in Statement Playoff Victory
- Jan 13
- 4 min read
For the second straight season, the Houston Texans delivered a defensive clinic in the playoffs, overwhelming the Los Angeles Chargers in a game that was never truly in doubt after a rocky start.
National media personalities—most notably ESPN’s Rex Ryan, who dubbed the Texans a “bye week”—had largely written Houston off. All week, Texans players and coaches downplayed the outside noise, but subtle postgame moments made it clear: they heard everything. And they took it personally.
This game played out almost exactly as I anticipated. In my preview, I pointed out that the Chargers were overhyped due to a soft schedule, while the Texans were overcriticized because expectations had been too high from the start. Houston executed five of my six keys to victory, most notably:
Run the Ball – Joe Mixon and the ground game helped close the game out in dominant fashion.
Stop the Run – The Texans’ defense shut down the Chargers’ rushing attack, forcing the game into Justin Herbert’s hands.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, this game felt eerily similar to last season’s Wild Card demolition of the Browns. The Texans defense completely overwhelmed a supposed elite quarterback, and just like in that game—where Houston had two pick-sixes—the defense delivered one pick six and nearly had another.
The result? A 32-12 beatdown that sent a message to the rest of the NFL.
Early Game Jitters: Offense Stalls, Defense Stands Tall
The game did not start favorably for Houston.
The Chargers’ opening drive saw them march down the field with ease, exposing Houston’s defensive soft spots in coverage. But, the Texans’ red-zone defense stiffened when it mattered most, forcing a third-down stop that limited Los Angeles to a field goal.
Then, disaster nearly struck on Houston’s first offensive play.
Bobby Slowik opened with a creative design, motioning Joe Mixon out of the backfield to spread the defense. C.J. Stroud hit John Metchie III on a quick route, but Metchie fumbled, and the Chargers recovered deep in Texans territory.
The atmosphere inside NRG Stadium felt grim, but Houston’s defense responded immediately. A critical sack by Will Anderson Jr. helped force another Chargers field goal, keeping the damage minimal at 6-0.
The Texans offense, however, continued to struggle.
Stroud, who's had his struggles this season, made a mistake—throwing into tight coverage for an interception. It appeared to be either a miscommunication with Dalton Schultz or an underthrown pass intended for Metchie. Either way, it was the kind of self-inflicted mistake that plagued Houston throughout the year.
With the Chargers already up 6-0 and driving deep into Texans territory late in the second quarter, things felt like they were slipping away.
That’s when Houston’s elite defense reminded everyone why they were special.
Momentum Shift: Kamari Lassiter’s Clutch Interception
Justin Herbert, who had thrown just three interceptions all season, tested Houston’s secondary—and Kamari Lassiter made him pay.
Lassiter picked off a cross-field, across-the-body throw, a dangerous decision by Herbert, and returned it deep into Chargers territory.
A few quick three-and-out possessions for both teams gave the Texans the ball at their own one-yard line. With Houston’s offense struggling, the stadium felt tense.
Then, everything changed.
After a tripping call on Tytus Howard put the Texans in a 2nd-and-40 situation, Stroud had his defining moment of the game.
The snap was botched, forcing Stroud to react quickly.
He scrambled to his right, buying time.
He spotted Xavier Hutchison open downfield and fired a bullet for 34 yards.
The NRG crowd erupted. The Texans’ sideline exploded. The entire team’s confidence flipped in an instant.
With momentum fully on their side, Stroud hit Nico Collins for 37 yards on an in-breaking route. A few plays later, he found Collins again for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Houston its first lead at 7-6.
And just when it seemed like the half was over, DeMeco Ryans took advantage of good defense and poor clock management by the Chargers.
Houston forced a Chargers three-and-out (3 straight incompletions).
Stroud scrambled for a career-long 27 yards.
Ka'imi Fairbairn nailed a 41-yard field goal to put Houston up 10-6 at halftime.
Considering how poorly the offense had played for most of the half, Texans fans would have gladly taken that lead.
Second Half: The Defense Puts the Game Away
The Texans offense came out aggressive in the second half, with Stroud hitting Collins for 41 yards on 3rd-and-5.
But Slowik got too cute—calling a halfback pass, which Mixon fumbled while trying to decide whether to throw or run.
The defense bailed them out again.
After a 17-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, Houston forced a 4th-and-2 stop, giving the ball back.
The Texans added a field goal after a wild sequence:
Stroud threw an end-zone interception to Derwin James that was overturned upon review.
However, a personal foul on the return still stood.
Tytus Howard was flagged for holding, forcing a 2nd-and-40.
The Texans managed to salvage the drive, setting up a Fairbairn field goal for a 13-6 lead.
Then, the floodgates opened.
Eric Murray jumped a Herbert pass, returning it 38 yards for a pick-six. 20-6, Texans.
Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Herbert on the next drive, returning it to the 13-yard line.
A sack on 2nd-and-1 forced Houston to settle for a 23-6 lead.
Chargers Briefly Show Life, But Houston Slams the Door Shut
The Chargers had one last gasp, with Herbert finding McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-26 after back-to-back sacks.
But special teams coach Frank Ross had the perfect counterpunch.
On the extra point attempt, Houston blocked the kick, and D’Angelo Ross scooped it up and ran it back for two points—turning what could have been a 23-13 game into a 25-12 lead.
Then came the championship-level drive Houston needed.
8+ minutes left.
Texans up 13 points.
Run the ball, control the clock, and finish the game.
And they did exactly that.
Mixon ground out tough yards.
Stroud converted key passes.
Mixon capped it off with a rushing touchdown.
To put the final stamp on the night, Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Herbert again, sealing the 32-12 victory.
Final Thoughts: The Texans Have Arrived
The doubters were silenced. The defense dominated. The offense, despite struggles, delivered in the biggest moments.
Next stop: the Divisional Round vs Kansas City on Saturday at 3:30 PM, when myself and other Texans content creators will be hosting a watch party at Tejas Brewery. Be sure to RSVP below:
Maybe next time, the national media won’t make the mistake of calling the Texans a “bye week.”
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