The Houston Texans put on a commanding performance as they defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in a wild-card playoff game. Eric Murray's interception return for a touchdown and a solid defensive effort were key factors in the Texans' victory.
C.J. Stroud, the Texans' quarterback, contributed to the win with a touchdown pass to Nico Collins. Stroud finished the game with 282 passing yards, while Collins had an impressive performance with seven catches for 122 yards.
The Texans' defense was exceptional, intercepting Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert four times during the game. Derek Stingley, an AP All-Pro cornerback, led the Texans' secondary with two interceptions, while Kamari Lassiter added another pick.
Despite a strong regular season performance, Herbert struggled against the Texans' defense, completing just 14 of 32 passes for 242 yards and ending the game with a passer rating of 40.9. The Chargers, under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, were unable to overcome the Texans' defensive pressure and suffered a second consecutive wild-card round defeat.
Joe Mixon also made significant contributions to the Texans' offense, rushing for 106 yards and scoring a touchdown.
This victory marks the second consecutive year that the Texans have advanced past the first round of the playoffs, following their win against Cleveland last season. The Chargers, on the other hand, continue their postseason drought, having not won a playoff game since 2018.
Overall, the Texans' dominant performance on both sides of the ball secured their spot in the next round of the playoffs, while the Chargers will have to regroup and look to bounce back next season.
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