NRG Stadium was rocking.
The 2024-25 NFL playoffs kicked off on Saturday and the first game was one that featured the much hyped Los Angeles Chargers against a Houston Texans team that had been written off by many as a one and done team.
This could have been believed from the get go. The Chargers were by far the better team out of the blocks, with Justin Herbert moving the ball early with the help of Ladd McConkey and J.K. Dobbins.
The Chargers defense looked very effective in the early stages, forcing Texans wide receiver John Metchie into an early fumble.
Although the Chargers had the lion’s share of the early possession and great starting field position, the Texans bend-but-do-not-break defense held the impressive Chargers offense to just six points.
Stroud finds his groove
It cannot be stated enough just how good the Texans defense were in this game throughout. But no matter how good you are at some point you need your offense to turn up.
The Texans offense over the season has struggled to perform and this game very much felt like a repeat. Predictable running plays up the middle and forced throws into good coverage, it has not been the C.J. Stroud led offense we were used to from last season.
But that all changed late in the first half when a muffed snap that went past Stroud and forced him to scramble.
As the Chargers defense was bearing down on him, he looked up field and Xavier Hutchison had not given up on the play. Stroud found his man for a gain of 34 yards, which completely changed the entire landscape of the game.
From that moment on, Stroud took over the game. Nico Collins finished the game with a franchise record in the playoffs of 122 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The other supporting member who helped was the ever reliable Joe Mixon, who ran for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Texans front causes chaos
The Chargers struggled to recover from the momentum shift. It showed as the Texans defense continued to pressure Herbert consistently for the remainder of the game. Herbert was sacked four times, with Will Anderson Jr. notching 2 of those.
Now as we all know Herbert has been exceptional for not turning the ball over this year. You had to go back to Week 2 for the last time he threw a pick on the road.
The pressure caused by the Texans front, however, led to him throwing four picks in this game.
One of these picks was caught by Eric Murray, who took it back for a Pick Six and led to wild scenes at NRG Stadium. Reports say the stadium was vibrating due to the noise and fan excitement.
This game started to get away from the Chargers and because they had to chase it probably added to there issues.
All Pro Derek Stingley Jr. had two interceptions, cementing why he is probably the best cornerback in the game right now.
McConkey and Herbert did connect again late on to have a massive 86 yard touchdown. The rookie receiver was by far the best player for LA, as he went for 197 yards and a touchdown.
All that good work was undone as on the ensuing point after attempt, the Texans blocked it took it back for a two point score of their own. It was the first defensive two-point score in NFL postseason history.
This game really put the wild into Wild Card Weekend, with the Texans running out 32-12 winners.
For everyone in the know, it was probably the worst bye week the Chargers have every had.
