Official Texans vs. Chargers Game Thread, 10/2/2022

[Arky]

The 1-2 Los Angeles Chargers come to NRG stadium this Sunday to take on the 0-2-1 Texans in an early game on CBS. The Chargers are coming off a 38-10 beatdown from the Jags while the Texans lost a close one in Chicago, 23-20.

Chargers are an enigma winning in Week 1 24-19 over the Raiders, playing the Chiefs tough in a 27-24 loss in Week 2 then, inexplicably getting blown out by the Jags at home in Week 3. So who shows up? My guess is they will be all business when they come to town. QB Justin Herbert is having a pretty good year so far, 84/127, 66.1% completion, 910 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, and a 98.9 rating. Top running back is Austin Ekeler (32/80, 2.5 avg) although the Chargers generally prefer to pass the ball. The Chargers have 5 receivers with 130+ yards - WRs DeAndre Carter, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, RB Austin Ekeler and TE Gerald Everett. The Texans secondary will be tested. The Charger defense is 12th against the run (yards), 20th against the pass (yards).

The Texans will be playing at home and will have no excuse - they must show improvement on offense. QB Davis Mills will have to show something or the calls for backup Kyle Allen will begin. Mills has played below average overall so far and doesn't look like the beginning-to-look-efficient QB that finished the season last year. The O-line needs to step up, the receivers need to get open, the backs need to do their part. After the Chicago game, the Texan defense is now last in league vs. the run and rates 11th vs. the pass (yards).

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TV = CBS, noon CST, Sunday, October 2, 2022

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, James Lofton (3rd week in a row?)

The line = Chargers by 5 to 5½ (down from 7)

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = New England @ Green Bay, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = Arizona @ Carolina, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

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Prime time:

TNF = Miami @ Cincinnati (Amazon)

Sunday Morning (London) = Minnesota vs New Orleans, Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, (NFLN), 8:30 am CST

SNF = Kansas City @ Tampa Bay (NBC)

MNF = LA Rams @ San Francisco (ESPN)

[Arky]

After the Mills INT, the Chargers are set up at the Texan 25.

Herbert hits the TE, Everett on 3rd and 3 in the end zone for the Charger TD.

Chargers 7, Texans 0

12 minutes left in the 1st qtr.

Great start!

[Arky]

Titans over the Colts 7-0.

Jags over the Eagles 7-0.

Ravens up on the Bills 7-3.

[Arky]

Fairbairn misses badly on a 46 yard FG.

Still,

Chargers 7, Texans 0

2:19 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Ekeler runs it in from 10 for a Charger TD.

Chargers 14, Texans 0

12:57 left in the half.

[Arky]

The route is on! Ekeler runs it in from 20.

Texans defense acting like the worst rushing defense in the league.

Chargers 21, Texans 0

10 minutes left in the half.

[Arky]

Well, that was unexpected. Pierce gets loose for 75 yards, TD.

Chargers 21, Texans 7

9:48 left in the half.

[Arky]

Texans defense looks "holie" today. Chargers quickly scoot down the field but end up having to settle for a Hopkins 23 yard FG.

Chargers 24, Texans 7

4:35 left in the half.

[Keith]

Herbert doing as he pleases.

Nice to see Pierce break off that long run. Seems like he's had that coming for awhile.

Texans clearly the lesser team today.

Jags got off to a hot start against the Eagles. Trying to prove they're for real. Titans up by 2 TDs on the Colts.

[Arky]

Hopkins is good from 37 as the half comes to an end.

Chargers 27, Texans 7

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Texans with a whopping 7 first half points.

With the help of the 75 yard run, Pierce is 8/99, 12.4 avg.

Mills = 13/16, 76 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, sacked twice, 60.4 rating.

Texan defense = 0 sacks.

Two rookies, Pitre and Stingley, lead the Texans with tackles with 5 and 4, respectively. Nelson also has 4 tackles.

Chargers - 293 yards offense, Texans - 157 yards,

1st downs - Chargers 13, Texans 8

[Arky]

Chargers are supposedly banged up, many injuries. Even the QB. Yet, the Texans are making them look like a powerhouse.

Pierce doing the "Foster thing". Goes for 2,3,4 yards and then boom, a big one bringing the yds/carry zooming up. I could live with that....

[Arky]

Mills hits Burkhead for an 8 yard TD.

Chargers 27, Texans 14

Do I detect the Charger's defense easing up/getting gassed?

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Eagles have gone ahead of the Jags, 20-14.

[Arky]

A couple of nice plays by Mills gets the Texans in the end zone. One was a long pass to Nico Collins. Their first 4th qtr pts of the year as the announcers remind us. Mills hits Cooks for the last 18 yards.

I can't believe this but we have a game.

Chargers 27, Texans 21

10:02 left in the game.

[Arky]

Whoa, Texans cause Carter to fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

Texans set up at the Charger 16 yard line!

[Arky]

Texans get a 44 yard FG from Fairbairn after the turnover. Eh, Mills was sacked silly and fumbled but the Texans recovered to keep the scoring chance alive.

Chargers 27, Texans 24

8:30 left in the game.

[Arky]

Well, that might do it. Defense just can't get the stop. No one on Ekeler and the screen goes for a 14 yard TD.

Chargers 34, Texans 24

2:28 left in the game.

[Arky]

That's the way it ends.

Final Score:

Chargers 34, Texans 24

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Texans won the 2nd half but were terrible in the 1st half.

The INT to start the game hurt because it was essentially giving the Chargers a free TD. The Chargers scoring 20 in the 2nd qtr did not help. In the end, same result (a loss).

It was good to see the Texans not totally cave in but they still haven't figured out this winning thing, yet.

The Eagles beat the Jags so the Texans will have a tough one coming up in Jacksonville next Sunday. Early line is the Jags by 7.