RECAP: Texans Ground Los Angeles Chargers with resounding 32-12 win

Movin’ on to the divisional round.

I don’t even know how to begin this recap. I suppose we should start at the beginning where it looked like it was going to be a redux of the Houston Texans’ games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens earlier a few games ago.

The defense started strong, the offense did not. The first drive ended with a John Metchie fumble leading to the Los Angeles Chargers getting a second field goal, putting them up 6-0; and the Texans were lucky at that point not to be down 14-0.

It was grim. In the first quarter was carried almost entirely by the defense, to the point where it looked like they would get gassed early and boat raced by the Chargers in the second half.

Then the second quarter came and the Texans got the ball at their own one yard line. It looked ominous, but then the Texans’ fortunes all changed on what looked to be one single play.

I cannot do justice to the play so I’ll show you the tweet instead.

That throw and catch by Stroud and Hutchinson respectively might have saved the Texans season.

After that, the Texans marched down the field and got the game’s first touchdown on a 13 yard Nico Collins grab to put the Texans up 7-6.

They would not trail again.

They would follow that up with a 41-yard field goal by Fairbairn to close out the half with a 10-6 lead.

The second half was a much different story.

Fairbairn would lead off the scoring with a 37-yard field goal to put the Texans up 13-6.

But if you thought the defense was done, you thought incorrectly.

Justin Herbert would throw his second of four interceptions on the day (the first one going in the first half to Kamari Lassiter) to Eric Murray who would return the ball for a pick six, to give the Texans a 20-6 lead.

After a series of stupid penalties put the Texans back to second down and 40, they manage to claw their way back to field goal range where Fairbairn would drill a 30 yard field goal to go up 23-6.

Then, the game got drunk.

Back-to-back sacks by Will Anderson Jr. and Mario Edwards Jr. would put the Chargers at third-and-26. The Chargers would get an 84-yard touchdown to Ladd McConkey (what kind of name is Ladd, anyway?). But D’Angelo Ross would block the extra point, recover the ball, and take it back to the house for a two point score, putting the lead at 25-12.

The final exclamation point on the game would come in the fourth quarter when Joe Mixon would take the ball for a 17-yard run into the end zone for the final touchdown of the game, with the Texans ultimately winning the game 32-12 (which is scorigami for those of you playing along at home).

It was the most complete game the Texans have played all season and it could not have come at a better time.

Now the Texans reach their longtime nemesis: the divisional round, where they will learn who they will face in the next round.

What a wild game. What a great game.

I need a nap.

See y’all next weekend.

And may the way of DeMeco lead the Texans to the Super Bowl.

GO TEXANS!