The Texans might not be back, considering it was the Chargers they blew out, but they can’t be counted out just yet either.
Houston routed the Chargers 44-22 in a game that wasn’t that close.
The Texans have won three of their last four games, and they have the Browns, Colts and Ravens in their next three games. After beginning the season 0-4, Houston is 3-5. The Chargers fell to 0-8 and remain on track for the No.1 overall pick.
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C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns, a 17-yarder to Xavier Hutchinson, a 63-yarder to Tank Dell, a 12-yarder to Kayshon Boutte, a 13-yarder to Nico Collins and a 63-yarder to Boutte. Boutte caught four passes for 125 yards, and Dell added four catches for 105 yards with the touchdown his first since December 2024.
Woody Marks ran 18 times for 70 yards.
The Texans outgained the Chargers 485 to 315.
Houston sacked Justin Herbert eight times, with Will Anderson, Sheldon Rankins and Jadeveon Clowney each collecting two sacks. Herbert injured the middle finger on his left hand on a sack by Logan Hall in the fourth quarter.
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Herbert was 13-of-23 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Keaton Mitchell lost a fumble.
Herbert stayed in after his hand injury and threw a 58-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston, ending a streak of 38 possessions without a touchdown. The Chargers’ previous touchdown came with 57 seconds left in the third quarter against the Broncos on Oct. 11 when Kimani Vidal scored on a 42-yard run in the 23-17 loss to Denver.
Ladd McConkey had back spasms in pregame warmups and didn’t play.
