CJ Stroud’s early strikes lift Texans past Chargers to clinch playoff berth | NFL

CJ Stroud threw two long touchdowns on Houston’s first two drives of the game, and the Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday and clinched a third straight playoff berth for the first time in franchise history.

The Texans (11-5) won their eighth straight, their longest streak since nine wins in 2018.

The Chargers (11-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped and handed the AFC West title to Denver. They beat the first-place Broncos in Week 3, but missed their chance to set up a winner-take-all showdown in Denver in Week 18.

The Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs in a loss to Houston last season.

Stroud’s two explosive touchdown runs stunned the Chargers and gave Houston a 14-0 lead. On his first pass of the game, he hit Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard score against a broken coverage. Stroud wasn’t pressured when he threw a 43-yard touchdown to Jaylin Noel, who was uncovered.

The Chargers had allowed just one TD pass of 40 yards or more in their last 15 games.

Stroud completed his first six shots of the game. He finished 16 of 28 for 244 yards and two interceptions.

Houston’s defense forced sacks of Justin Herbert on third down on the Chargers’ first two possessions. They were three of three on their first four possessions, quieting the SoFi Stadium crowd.

Playing in his third game with a broken (non-throwing) left hand, Herbert was 21 of 32 for 236 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked five times.

Derwin James Jr intercepted Stroud in the second quarter, but the Chargers only managed a 27-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker on the turnover to lead 14-3. Another Stroud interception produced no points despite both errors occurring in Houston territory.

Herbert was intercepted by Azeez Al-Shaair at the Houston 1-yard line. The ball, intended for Oronde Gadsden, slipped out of his hands and Al-Shaair recovered it for his second interception of the season. Gadsden held his face in his hands on the bench.

Dicker missed a field goal from within 40 yards for the first time in his career just before halftime, leaving the Chargers trailing 14-3. He was later largely left to miss his first point-after attempt of the season on the Chargers’ final drive after Omarion Hamption’s five-yard run made the score 20-16.

Ka’imi Fairbairn made field goals of 41 and 44 yards for Houston