INGLEWOOD, CA — After an 0-3 regular-season start, the Houston Texans have lifted off.
The Texans held on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on Saturday to clinch a playoff berth.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans got off to an early 14-0 first-quarter lead and held off the Chargers as they attempted to fight back into the game.
Houston’s top-ranked defense led the way as the unit contained Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense for most of the contest.
The Texans have won a league-best eight consecutive games and have punched their ticket into the postseason.
Here are the winners and losers from Saturday’s AFC battle:
Winners
Texans defense
The stingy defense flexed its muscle against Los Angeles. Houston had the NFL’s No. 1 total defense and ranked No. 1 in points allowed entering Week 17. In the first half, the Texans defense held the Chargers to three points and six first downs.
Houston sacked Herbert five times and registered eight hits.
The Chargers gained 275 yards of total offense. Omarion Hampton was held to 29 rushing yards.
Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. entered the game with a combined 24 ½ sacks. Hunter had a sack in the win. Anderson was credited for a half-sack.
C.J. Stroud to Iowa State products in first quarter
Stroud and rookie Jayden Higgins hooked up for a 75-yard touchdown on the third play of the game to lift the Texans to an early 7-0 lead. It was the longest touchdown pass of Stroud’s career. On Houston’s next possession, Stroud tossed a 43-yard touchdown to rookie Jaylin Noel to give the team a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Higgins and Noel are the second rookie duo in NFL history and the first since 1938 to each record touchdown receptions of 40-plus yards in the same game, per NFL Research. Higgins and Noel were also teammates at Iowa State.
Stroud started the game 4-of-4 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
It was 14-0 before fans got comfortable in their seats. The Texans outgained the Chargers 171 to 15 in total yards in the first period.
Texans playoff bound
Houston clinched a playoff berth with a win Saturday. The Texans have defeated the Chargers their past two meeting, including in the 2024 playoffs.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos officially clinched the AFC West title as a result of the Chargers’ loss. It’s Denver’s first division title since 2015.
Losers
Chargers’ offensive line
The Chargers offensive line has been ravaged by injuries this season.
The patchwork O-line faltered against Hunter, Anderson and the Texans defense. Herbert was sacked a handful of times. He was under duress all game.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have officially been eliminated from playoff contention as a result of Houston’s win.
Chargers’ first-quarter defense
The Chargers secondary performed as though the group was on Christmas vacation. The secondary started the contest with huge busted coverages on back-to-back series. One resulted in a 75-yard touchdown catch by Higgins and the other was a 43-yard touchdown reception by Noel.
The Chargers defense gave up 151 passing yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter.
Rookie mistakes for Oronde Gadsden
Gadsden had two crucial drops. One drop ricocheted off his hands near the end zone and into the hands of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Gadsden had another drop early in the second half that erased what would’ve been a first down.
The Chargers rookie tight end did have a 1-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter.
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, punter JK Scott
Dicker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed an easy 32-yard field goal at the end of the first half. A successful field goal attempt would’ve cut the Chargers’ halftime deficit to 14-6. He also missed an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter with under four minutes remaining that would’ve trimmed Houston’s advantage to three points.
Dicker had made 94.1% of his career field goals entering Week 17.
Scott had punts of just 22 and 34 yards in the second half.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.