While the Houston Texans secured a 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, DeMeco Ryans believes the game could have gone a different way.
In fact, there was a direct turning point in the second quarter that likely saved the season and allowed Houston to seize momentum just before halftime.
After struggling to move the ball on offense through the first quarter, the Texans were pinned on their own 1-yard line and looking to merely avoid a punt out of the end zone. Catastrophe almost struck as C.J. Stroud mishandled a shotgun snap from Jarrett Patterson and watched the ball bounce near the sidelines.
But in Ryans’ mind, that was the play needed to ignite a comeback for the second half. Stroud managed to pick up the ball at the 4-yard line and scramble before connecting with Xavier Hutchinson for a stupendous 34-yard gain.
“That’s the play that sparked our entire team,” Ryans said on Saturday after the win.
UNREALLLL THROW FROM CJ7
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He’s not wrong. Two plays later, Stroud found Nico Collins for a 39-yard gain. With just under a minute remaining, the two connected for a 13-yard touchdown, giving Houston a 7-6 lead.
That would expand to 10-6 with Stroud’s 27-yard run to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn 30-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
Stroud said after the one play that almost didn’t start to electrify the crowd, the momentum boosted up the Texans’ sidelines.
“After we made the completion, I looked to the sidelines and everybody was turnt up, so that turnt me up,” Stroud said.
Houston scored 23 unanswered points after the Hutchinson pitch-and-catch before the Bolts found life. Even after Ladd McConkey scored an 87-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Cameron Dicker’s PAT was blocked by Dencio Autry and recovered by D’Angelo Ross for a 2-point conversion.
“That’s the complementary football that we been looking for and we been needing as a team.,” Ryans said. “Just outstanding performance on all three phases.”
Houston’s defense forced four interceptions and four sacks of Justin Herbert. The Pro Bowl completed just 14 total passes and a mere three when pressured for 103 yards.
Eric Murray took his 38 yards for a back-breaking pick-six to conclude the third quarter. Meanwhile, All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. nabbed two interceptions, in a one to essentially ice the blowout victory.
“I’m most proud of how we stopped the run, and then you make teams one-dimensional, and that’s what we did,” Ryans said.
Stroud, who became the sixth quarterback in NFL history to win two playoff games in his first two seasons, finished 22-of-33 passing for 282 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.
The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium next week to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.