HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans acquired one other large sport from C.J. Stroud and their beleaguered protection stepped as much as get a victory over the winless Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Stroud continued his robust play by throwing for 384 yards and tying a profession excessive with 5 landing passes t. It’s Houston’s third win in 4 video games after opening the season 0-4.
The protection tied a franchise document by sacking Justin Herbert eight occasions and compelled two turnovers to bounce again after struggling in an time beyond regulation loss to the Giants earlier than the bye.
“Very happy with the protection,” coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “I felt like the blokes actually repped our model, felt the physicality from our guys … it was enjoyable to look at when the quarterback drops again and our D-line is getting house, that’s again to what I’m used to seeing out of our defensive position.”
Stroud had two 63-yard landing passes on Sunday, discovering Tank Dell within the second quarter and connecting with Kayshon Boutte early within the fourth. These throws had been his longest completions of the season.
He additionally threw a 17-yard TD to Xavier Hutchinson, a 13-yarder to Nico Collins and located Boutte for a 12-yard rating simply earlier than halftime.
Stroud ranks second within the NFL by averaging 281.4 yards passing a sport, and he and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow are the one gamers this season to have at the least 350 yards passing and 5 TD throws in a sport this season.
“C.J. is a high quarterback within the league … due to his steadiness within the pocket, his resolve, his nice power all day,” Ryans mentioned. “And he’s having an outstanding 12 months and he’s undoubtedly deserving of all the popularity that he ought to get.”
His efficiency was much more spectacular contemplating he wasn’t feeling properly all week, saying that he had chills and barely practiced on Thursday.
“To have that kind of efficiency below the climate was only a testomony to our workforce and our resilience,” he mentioned. “I’m grateful that God is permitting me to play this sport even after I’m sick. I don’t know, I’m simply actually proud of what we had been in a position to do off of a bye week.”
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What’s working
Other than Stroud’s work on Sunday, the move rush was the star of Houston’s win. The Texans had mixed for simply seven sacks of their earlier three video games earlier than Sunday’s breakout efficiency.
The eight sacks had been a career-high for Herbert and it was solely the fifth time since 1970 that the Chargers have allowed eight or extra sacks.
Will Anderson Jr., Jadeveon Clowney and Sheldon Rankins had two sacks apiece to mark the primary time in franchise historical past that three gamers have every had two sacks in a sport.
Anderson leads the NFL with 9 1/2 sacks to assist the Texans high the league with 29 this season.
Houston’s massive pass-rushing day helped the workforce end with 12 tackles for loss, which is the third most in a single sport in franchise historical past.
What wants assist
Whereas Houston’s passing sport has been the power of the workforce this season, the operating sport has struggled to maintain up. Woody Marks averaged simply 3.9 yards a carry Sunday within the third sport taking part in with out starter David Montgomery, who’s out with a groin damage.
The Texans rank twenty ninth within the NFL by averaging simply 87.1 yards dashing a sport.
Top off
Dell starred in his second sport again after lacking virtually two years whereas recovering from a catastrophic knee damage. He had 4 receptions for 105 yards after catching only one move for 43 yards in restricted motion in opposition to the Giants.
It was his fifth profession 100-yards receiving sport and his first since Oct. 31, 2024, in opposition to the Jets.
“He’s a assured younger man,” Ryans mentioned. “He is aware of his capability. He believes in himself. He put the work in and he was prepared for this chance.”
Inventory down
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. had simply two receptions for 20 yards in his third sport since a commerce from Arizona.
Accidents
Ryans mentioned Montgomery is enhancing and will return to observe this week. … S Reed Blankenship is more likely to miss a 3rd consecutive sport on Sunday whereas recovering from a hand damage and a concussion.
Key quantity
125 — Boutte led the workforce with a career-high 125 yards receiving and two touchdowns on Sunday. He had simply 194 yards receiving via his first seven video games this season earlier than his massive sport in opposition to the Chargers.
Subsequent steps
The Texans go to the Browns on Sunday.
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