Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers fell 20-16 to C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans at home Saturday in a miscue-filled game as they look toward the playoffs despite the loss.
The win clinched a playoff spot for Houston and kept its hopes of winning the AFC South alive, improving the Texans to 11-5 and keeping them within reach of the 11-4 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chargers entered the matchup having already clinched a playoff spot, but with the loss, the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West.
Fans questioned the Chargers’ legitimacy as playoff contenders following their performance and the loss to Houston.
Herbert threw for 236 yards and one touchdown with one interception while completing 21-of-32 passes. He connected with Orande Gadsden for the score, while Omarion Hampton added a rushing touchdown.
Stroud battled for Houston, finishing with 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 16-of-28 passes.
After four straight punts, an interception and a missed field goal, the Chargers trailed 14-3 at halftime. The Texans scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and added two interceptions in the second.
Houston tacked on a field goal early in the second half before the Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone for the first time with 13 seconds left in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to one score entering the fourth.
Trailing 20-10 with under four minutes remaining, the Chargers drove for a touchdown to pull within a field goal, but Cameron Dicker missed the extra point, keeping it a four-point game.
An eyebrow raising illegal contact call just before the two-minute warning negated a third-down sack and gave the Houston Texans a fresh set of downs, leading the way for them to run out the clock and assume victory formation.
The Texans will close the regular season at home against the Indianapolis Colts, while the Chargers will hit the road to face the Denver Broncos in Week 18.