The NFL Wild Card game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans on January 11, 2025, gave fans a night to remember. It wasn’t just another playoff match — it was a game full of surprises, mistakes, and powerful plays.
One of the biggest shocks? Justin Herbert, the Chargers quarterback, threw four interceptions in just one game. That’s more than he threw in the entire regular season! The Texans used those mistakes to their advantage and won the game 32-12.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at the Chargers vs Texans match player stats, including quarterback duels, big-time defensive plays, rushing and receiving numbers, and all the small things that made a big difference.
Quick Game Summary: Texans 32, Chargers 12
Let’s start with the basics. The Texans played at home in NRG Stadium with over 71,000 fans watching. The Chargers started off well with two early field goals and took a 6-0 lead. But that didn’t last long.
The Texans scored 10 points in the second quarter, 10 in the third, and 12 in the fourth, while the Chargers could only manage one touchdown the rest of the way. The game quickly slipped away from LA after the first half.
By the end of the night:
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Texans had 429 total yards.
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Chargers had just 261.
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The Texans were in full control by the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t just about points — it was how the Texans played smart football and took advantage of the Chargers’ mistakes.
Quarterback Stats: Herbert vs Stroud Showdown
One of the biggest talking points of this game was the performance of the two quarterbacks.
Justin Herbert (Chargers):
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Completions/Attempts: 14/32
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Passing Yards: 242
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Touchdowns: 1
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Interceptions: 4
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Passer Rating: 40.9
C.J. Stroud (Texans):
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Completions/Attempts: 22/33
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Passing Yards: 282
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Touchdowns: 1
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Interceptions: 1
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Passer Rating: 90.7
Stroud, playing in his first-ever playoff game, stayed calm and made smart throws. Herbert, on the other hand, faced a lot of pressure and made risky decisions. The Texans’ defense hit him on more than half of his dropbacks, which made it hard for him to stay in rhythm.
Four Costly Interceptions by Justin Herbert
Imagine throwing just three interceptions all season, and then throwing four in one game. That’s exactly what happened to Herbert.
Here’s how it unfolded:
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1st Interception: Came early when the Chargers were up 6-0. Herbert threw across his body into tight coverage, and Kamari Lassiter picked it off.
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2nd Interception: In the third quarter, a high throw bounced off his receiver’s hands, and Eric Murray returned it for a 38-yard touchdown.
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3rd Interception: Just minutes later, another pass deflected off a teammate and into the hands of Derek Stingley Jr.
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4th Interception: Down 26-6, Herbert threw a deep pass hoping for a miracle — and Stingley caught it again.
Each interception hurt the Chargers more and more. Instead of helping his team catch up, Herbert’s throws helped the Texans build an even bigger lead.
McConkey’s Big Night in a Losing Effort
Even though the Chargers lost, one player had a night to remember: Ladd McConkey. The rookie wide receiver did something special.
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9 receptions
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197 yards
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1 touchdown
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86-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-26
That 86-yard score was the longest TD of the 2024 playoffs at that point. McConkey showed amazing speed and strength, gaining 61 yards after contact on that one play.
Unfortunately, no one else on the Chargers’ offense stepped up. McConkey made up more than 80% of the team’s receiving yards, but it wasn’t enough to win the game.
Full Chargers vs Texans Player Stats Breakdown
Let’s look at the full picture of how both teams played, starting with the main keyword: Chargers vs Texans match player stats.
Top Chargers Receivers:
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Ladd McConkey: 9 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
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Will Dissly: 2 catches, 16 yards
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Quentin Johnston: 0 catches on 5 targets
Top Texans Receivers:
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Nico Collins: 7 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD
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Xavier Hutchinson: 1 huge catch for 34 yards
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John Metchie III & Dalton Schultz: 4+ catches each
Rushing Stats:
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Texans: 34 carries, 168 yards (led by Joe Mixon with 106 yards)
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Chargers: 18 carries, 50 yards (Dobbins and Edwards combined for 48)
This stat sheet shows how balanced the Texans were. They spread the ball around and used their ground game to control the clock. The Chargers, on the other hand, leaned heavily on one rookie receiver — and that’s never enough in the playoffs.
Key Defensive Stars of the Match
Defense wins games — and the Texans’ defense was everywhere.
Texans’ Top Performers:
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Derek Stingley Jr.: 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble (earned Defensive Player of the Week)
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Eric Murray: 1 interception returned for a touchdown
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Will Anderson Jr. & Mario Edwards Jr.: 1.5 sacks each
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Denico Autry: 1 sack and strong PFF rating (90.1)
Chargers’ Top Performers:
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Alohi Gilman: 10 tackles and 1 forced fumble
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Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
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Joey Bosa: 1 sack
Even though the Chargers had some defensive success — like forcing three fumbles — their offense gave the ball away four times. That’s hard to recover from in a playoff game.
The Rushing Game: Texans Controlled the Ground
In football, a strong run game can make a big difference. That’s exactly what happened in this match.
The Texans ran the ball 34 times for 168 yards, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. Joe Mixon led the charge with 25 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t need big plays — just steady gains that kept the clock running and the Chargers’ defense on the field.
The Chargers, on the other hand, struggled to move the ball on the ground. They had only 18 rushing attempts for 50 yards. Both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards tried to get things going, but with Houston leading most of the game, LA had to abandon the run.
This was a clear part of the Chargers vs Texans match player stats story. The Texans were balanced and in control. The Chargers were rushed and off-track.
Red Zone and 3rd Down Stats Comparison
Scoring chances matter — and so does what you do with them.
The Texans went 2-for-4 in the red zone. That means they turned half their trips close to the end zone into touchdowns. They also made both of their 4th down attempts. That shows smart coaching and good execution.
The Chargers only reached the red zone once, and they didn’t score a touchdown. That one failed red zone trip was a big moment. LA had the ball in a great spot, but still came away with nothing.
On third down, both teams were close:
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Chargers: 3 for 11 (27%)
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Texans: 5 for 14 (36%)
In tight games, these small differences can add up. In this game, they helped Houston stay ahead and keep the ball longer.
Chargers Offensive Line Struggles
A quarterback needs time to throw. Sadly for Justin Herbert, he didn’t get much of it.
The Texans’ pass rush hit Herbert on more than 50% of his dropbacks — the highest pressure rate of the entire 2024 playoffs. That kind of pressure makes it almost impossible for a quarterback to stay calm or accurate.
Zion Johnson, the Chargers’ left guard, gave up two sacks and had a very low blocking grade. Jamaree Salyer, on the right side, also struggled. Together, they allowed too many defenders to break through the line.
Because of this, the Chargers vs Texans match player stats clearly show how big of a problem the offensive line was. Pressure leads to mistakes — and mistakes lead to losses.
Special Teams and Field Position Impact
Sometimes, the little things — like punts and field goals — make a big difference.
Ka’imi Fairbairn, the Texans’ kicker, was perfect. He made all 3 field goals and all 3 extra points. His kicks kept Houston’s score growing smoothly. That’s 12 points just from the kicker.
Cameron Dicker, the Chargers’ kicker, also made both of his field goal tries. But he missed one extra point. That might not seem like much, but when your team is struggling, every point counts.
A special moment came late in the second quarter. JK Scott, LA’s punter, hit a great 65-yard punt that pinned Houston at their 1-yard line. But instead of stopping them, the Texans marched down the field for a 99-yard touchdown drive — the longest of the playoffs. That turned the entire game around.
Turnovers and Why Houston Won the Match
Let’s talk about turnovers — the plays that change everything.
The Texans had three of their own (one interception and two fumbles), but the Chargers only got six points from them. On the other hand, Houston scored 10 points off Herbert’s four interceptions, including a pick-six by Eric Murray.
When you look at the full Chargers vs Texans match player stats, turnovers made all the difference:
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Chargers: 4 turnovers
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Texans: 3 turnovers
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Points off turnovers: Texans 10, Chargers 6
Houston’s defense knew how to take advantage. The Chargers’ offense didn’t.
What This Match Means for Both Teams
This game was a big moment for both teams — but in very different ways.
The Texans earned a spot in the Divisional Round and moved on to face the Kansas City Chiefs. Their young quarterback, strong defense, and smart playcalling showed they were ready for the big stage. Players like Derek Stingley Jr., Joe Mixon, and Nico Collins stepped up when it mattered most.
The Chargers, on the other hand, had a lot of questions to answer. Their offensive line couldn’t protect Herbert. Their wide receivers (except McConkey) disappeared. And their red zone struggles cost them the game.
Still, one bright light was Ladd McConkey, who broke the NFL rookie playoff record with his 197-yard performance. He showed heart, speed, and skill — and gave fans hope for the future.
But football is a team game. And in this game, the Texans played better in every way.
Bottom-Line
The Chargers vs Texans match player stats tell a clear story — the Texans were smarter, stronger, and more balanced. They turned big plays into points. They protected their quarterback. And they made the most of every chance they got.
For the Chargers, it was a night of missed chances, turnovers, and lessons to learn. For Houston, it was a night of celebration and moving forward.
As the playoffs continue, one thing is clear: this game will be remembered for a long time — not just because of who won, but because of how they won.
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