The Houston Texans secured a narrow 20-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, clinching a playoff spot in the NFL's AFC. The win keeps Houston in the race for the AFC South title while eliminating the Indianapolis Colts from contention. Los Angeles' loss hands the AFC West crown to the Denver Broncos.
The game, played on NFL Saturday in Week 17, saw the Texans jump to an early lead with two quick touchdowns in the first quarter. Quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with rookie receiver Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive, exploiting a coverage bust in the Chargers' secondary. Shortly after, Stroud found Jaylin Noel for a 43-yard score, putting Houston up 14-0 within the first 10 minutes.
The Chargers mounted a comeback effort led by Justin Herbert, but self-inflicted errors derailed their chances. Pro Bowl kicker Cameron Dicker missed a 32-yard field goal and an extra point, proving costly in the tight contest. Houston's defense, ranked first in the NFL for yards allowed per game at 272.3 and points at 16.6, held firm to preserve the lead.
This victory improves the Texans' record to 11-5, extending their seven-game win streak. Despite missing starting tackles Laremy Tunsil and others due to injuries, Houston's offensive line adapted with veterans like Tytus Howard shifting positions. Stroud, in his third year, has thrown for 2,628 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, helping the team rebound from an early 0-3 start under coach DeMeco Ryans.
For the Chargers, already playoff-bound, the defeat solidifies them as a wild-card contender, likely seeded fifth or sixth. The all-time series now stands at 5-6 in favor of Los Angeles, though Houston has won three of the last four meetings. The result underscores the Texans' defensive dominance and Stroud's growing poise as they eye a third straight postseason appearance.
