Stroud throws 3 TDs, Texans beat Chargers 40-33 for sixth straight win

Inglewood, CA - C.J. Stroud threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns, and the Houston Texans extended their winning streak to six games with a 40-33 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.

Houston arrived with a 6-1 record and five consecutive wins, then emerged from a high-scoring exchange with another victory. The Texans built an advantage during a game in which both passing attacks produced explosive gains, and Los Angeles narrowed the margin before Houston finished with the seven-point win.

Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes, recorded a 117.8 passer rating and had a game-long completion of 70 yards. He was intercepted once, but Houston repeatedly found production through its top two receivers. Tank Dell caught eight passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, while Nico Collins finished with six receptions for 134 yards and another score.

"We had a lot of different people involved, and the receivers gave us chances to keep pushing the ball," Stroud said. "There are still things we can clean up, especially with the turnover, but scoring 40 on the road and leaving with another win is something we can build on."

Collins' 134 receiving yards led Houston, while Dell's two scores gave the Texans another major threat in a passing game that accounted for most of their 438 offensive yards. Houston finished with 345 passing yards, 93 rushing yards and 19 first downs.

The Chargers countered with a productive passing performance of their own. Justin Herbert completed 25 of 41 attempts for 301 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Tyreek Hill posted the game-high receiving total with 138 yards on six catches and scored twice, including a 60-yard reception. Quentin Johnston added four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Los Angeles remained competitive as the offenses continued trading pressure, but the Chargers never created enough separation to interrupt Houston's run. The home team finished with 395 offensive yards, including 301 through the air, and converted seven of 18 third downs. Los Angeles also went 2-for-2 on fourth down.

"We moved the ball and put points up, but the result is what matters," Herbert said. "Against a team playing as well as Houston, you have to be sharper across the entire game. We had opportunities to keep applying pressure, and we didn't finish with the outcome we wanted."

The Texans' defense supplied a different statistical contrast. Houston recorded six sacks compared with one for Los Angeles, with Will Anderson Jr accounting for 3.5 of them. Each defense also intercepted one pass.

"Getting six sacks as a group says a lot about the way everybody kept working," Anderson said. "My number is part of that, but pressure is a team effort. We know there are areas to improve after giving up 33 points, and it's better to address those things after a win."

Houston's running game did not post a large yardage total, but Woody Marks handled a game-high 19 carries and finished with 67 yards and a touchdown. The Texans totaled 93 rushing yards, one fewer than the Chargers.

Omarion Hampton led Los Angeles on the ground with 62 yards on 12 carries and produced the game-long rush of 23 yards. The Chargers finished with 94 rushing yards, though much of their offensive production came from Herbert and Hill.

The teams also reached the red zone three times apiece. Houston scored two touchdowns and one field goal on those trips, while Los Angeles came away with one touchdown and two field goals. The Texans converted three of 11 third downs and did not convert their only fourth-down attempt, leaving Los Angeles with the stronger conversion rates despite the final result.

Ultimately, Houston had enough offense to sustain its highest-scoring exchange of the day and enough of an advantage to hold off the Chargers' pressure. Stroud outgained Herbert through the air, Dell and Collins both topped 130 receiving yards, and the Texans walked out of Inglewood with their sixth consecutive victory.

Up Next

The Texans will remain on the road in Week 10 when they visit the Cleveland Browns, while the Chargers will try to rebound away from home against the Baltimore Ravens.