Texans cruise past Chargers in Wild Card Round, move on to Divisional Round after home playoff win

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Texans have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs after a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

In the first quarter, the Chargers took the early lead with two field goal attempts by placekicker Cameron Dicker to put Los Angeles up 6-0 over Houston.

To start the second quarter, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a pass that was intercepted by Chargers cornerback Deane Leonard. However, Houston responded with an interception by cornerback Kamari Lassiter on Justin Herbert's deep left pass early in the second quarter.

To end Houston's scoring woes, Texans' Stroud found wide receiver Nico Collins for the 13-yard touchdown with under a minute remaining in the second quarter to tie the game, 6-6. Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn then hit a 65-yard field goal attempt to give Houston's first lead of the game, 7-6.

With six seconds left in the second quarter, Texans' Fairbairn scored the 41-yard field goal attempt to extend Houston's lead over the Chargers, 10-6, at halftime.

In the third quarter, Houston held Los Angeles scoreless. With just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Texans' Fairbairn drilled a 37-yard field goal attempt to increase the scoring margin for Houston, 13-6. The Texans then built a 14-point lead over the Chargers after Herbert's pass was intercepted by Texans safety Eric Murray with about 13 seconds left in the third, putting Houston up 20-6.

With twelve minutes left in the fourth quarter, Houston's Fairbairn drained a 30-yard field goal, putting the score at 23-6. The Chargers then answered back after Herbert connected with an incredible 86-yard touchdown with wideout Ladd McConkey with about 10:50 left in the fourth quarter, 23-12 with Houston still leading.

Moreover, Houston capitalized on the defensive end after cornerback D'Angelo Ross returned it for a two-point conversion with a Texans' lead, 25-12, midway in the fourth quarter.

To seal the deal, the Texans running back Joe Mixon rushed for the 17-yard touchdown to extend Houston's lead to 32-12 with just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Concerning Houston, it was a defensive clinic over the Chargers as the Texans showed their grit after gaining momentum in the second quarter. For the Chargers, Herbert had thrown four interceptions in the game. Yet in the regular season, Herbert had a record of a total of only three interceptions.

Texans eliminated the Chargers from the playoffs on Saturday and advance to the Divisional Round next week