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HOUSTON — The Chargers couldn’t run, couldn’t pass, couldn’t deny Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and couldn’t win their AFC wild-card game Saturday at NRG Stadium. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw a staggering four interceptions, one more than during 17 regular-season games.
Herbert and the Chargers were routed, 32-12, humbled in their second consecutive playoff appearance, following their come-from-ahead 31-30 loss two years ago to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They didn’t squander a 27-point lead, as they did on Jan. 14, 2023, but they didn’t play to their regular-season standards.
Not even close.
In the end, Jim Harbaugh’s first playoff game as their coach was a clunker.
“That’s on me,” he said. “All facets.”
Harbaugh didn’t blame practice adjustments made because of the wildfires around Los Angeles County that fouled the air at their El Segundo practice facility, among so many other areas in Southern California. He said the Chargers had plenty of time to prepare, but he accepted the blame for their poor showing.
“Obviously, it was not good enough by any standards,” Herbert said after completing 14 of 32 passes for 242 yards with one touchdown and a career-high four interceptions while falling to 0-2 in the postseason. “I put the team in jeopardy, a tough position with all those turnovers.”
Herbert had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game before Saturday. Derek Stingley Jr. had two interceptions, Eric Murray returned an overthrown pass intended for Ladd McConkey for a 38-yard touchdown and Kamari Lassiter had the other, on an ill-advised, across-the-field throw.
McConkey caught nine passes for an NFL rookie playoff record of 197 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown that gave the Chargers an all-too-brief injection of momentum and confidence in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. No one else had more than two catches, though.
J.K. Dobbins rushed nine times for 26 yards and Gus Edwards gained 22 yards on seven carries as the Chargers’ ground game ground to a halt, especially in the second half and they attempted to rely on Herbert’s strong right arm to rally them from a 10-6 deficit at halftime.
“We didn’t execute well enough,” Chargers center Bradley Bozeman said. “They (the Texans) have a really good (defensive) front. They’re really good across the front. Those guys are great football players. They run games together. They get off the ball very well. They’re a good front.”
Nothing summarized the Chargers’ lackluster play during their third playoff loss in four games since moving to Los Angeles from San Diego than a blocked extra point that Houston’s D’Angelo Ross alertly returned for a 2-point conversion to give the Texans a 25-12 with 10:37 remaining in the game.
Herbert had just thrown an 86-yard touchdown pass to McConkey to cut the Texans’ lead to 23-12, but Cameron Dicker’s extra point was blocked and instead of securing the loose ball Dicker batted it down and into the hands of Ross. No one came within yards of Ross as he raced down the field.
Game over.
And to think, the Chargers forced the Texans to punt three times and turn the ball over two times during Houston’s first five possessions.
Only after they were pinned at their own 1-yard line late in the first half did the Texans begin to move the ball. It took six plays for them to get from the 1 to the 11, but then Stroud began to make things happen that likely didn’t have a page in the playbook. Soon enough, the Chargers were deflated.
First, Stroud fumbled a snap in his own end zone, recovered the ball on the hop and then delivered a 34-yard strike to Xavier Hutchinson, giving the Texans a first down at the Chargers’ 49. Then, five plays later, Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 58 seconds left in the half.
It seemed like plenty of time for Herbert to drive the Chargers to a go-ahead field goal or a touchdown. Instead, the Chargers’ drive stalled and JK Scott punted the ball away, giving the Texans one more opportunity. Ka’imi Fairbairn made it 10-6 with a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half.
The second half was all Texans.
Fairbairn kicked two field goals, Murray returned an interception for a touchdown, Ross returned a blocked extra point for a 2-point conversion and Joe Mixon scored on a 17-yard touchdown run to account for the final score with 3:42 left in the game. Mixon rushed for 106 yards on 25 carries.
Stroud completed 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards with one TD and one pick.
“I’m more disappointed for this team, just knowing what we wanted to accomplish,” Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack said. “All in all, you can talk about the grit, the attitude, we fought, that’s all you can really ask for. I can’t make this about myself. Even though, selfishly, you feel like, damn, this was the one.”
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