C.J. Stroud shook off an illness that kept him out of most of the week’s practices and threw five touchdown passes, two of them 63-yard strikes, as the Houston Texans routed the winless Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday, November 8, at SoFi Stadium.
Houston improves to 3-5 and has won three of four since an 0-4 start. The Chargers fall to 0-8, and their losing streak, which dates back to last season, reached 11 games, tying the franchise record set in 2000. Los Angeles did end a 37-drive stretch without a touchdown, the second-longest such drought in league history.
Texans pull away before halftime
Fresh off their bye, the Texans scored on the opening drive, with Stroud finding Xavier Hutchinson for a 17-yard touchdown. Stroud was intercepted by Daiyan Henley in the first quarter, only his second pick of the season, and the Chargers kept it close on the leg of Cameron Dicker, whose field goals of 52, 33 and 43 yards made it 10-9 midway through the second quarter. Ka’imi Fairbairn had a 56-yarder in between for Houston.
Then the game turned in a hurry. Stroud hit Tank Dell for a 63-yard touchdown on a two-play, 43-second drive, Dell’s first score since his severe knee injury in 2024. Just before the half, Stroud capped a seven-play, 76-yard drive that took only 34 seconds with a 12-yard touchdown to Kayshon Boutte, his first of the season, and Houston led 24-9 at the break.
Stroud piles on
Stroud threw a 13-yard touchdown to Nico Collins in the third quarter and found Boutte again for 63 yards early in the fourth to make it 38-9. Throwing to four different receivers, he finished one touchdown shy of the franchise record of six. “I don’t know what I had, but was not feeling good,” Stroud said. Asked about a comparison to a famous playoff “flu game,” he smiled: “Not there yet, but maybe one day.”
The Chargers finally reached the end zone with 12:47 left when Justin Herbert threw a 58-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston, the team’s first touchdown since October 11 against Denver. Herbert later left with an injured finger on his left hand, and backup DJ Uiagalelei threw his first career touchdown pass, 15 yards to Derius Davis. Fairbairn added field goals of 31 and 41 yards for Houston.
The numbers
- C.J. Stroud: 21 of 35 for 384 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, sacked once, for a 125.5 rating.
- Kayshon Boutte: four catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Tank Dell: four for 105 and a touchdown. Collins and Hutchinson also caught scoring passes.
- Houston pass rush: eight sacks of Herbert, a career high against him. He has been sacked 31 times this season, second-most in the league.
- Justin Herbert: 13 of 23 for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
- Omarion Hampton: 13 carries for 60 yards to lead a Chargers run game that totaled 138 yards.
- Kicking: Fairbairn 3 for 3 (long of 56), Dicker 3 for 3 (long of 52). The Chargers have scored 24 points on field goals during their touchdown drought.
- Team totals: Houston 485 yards to 315 and 7.3 yards per play; Los Angeles was 5 of 17 on third down and was penalized nine times for 79 yards.
What it means
“C.J. has brought elite execution and playmaking ability,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. For the Chargers, the boos came down from the upper levels at SoFi Stadium, where they have not won since last December, and coach Jim Harbaugh could only call the touchdown “a positive.” Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel called plays from the booth for the first time this season. Herbert said his finger “shouldn’t be an issue,” and added, “I could have done a better job of getting the ball out quicker.”
Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was hurt late in the game. Chargers cornerback Isas Waxter left in the first quarter with an ankle injury, and receiver Ladd McConkey was active but did not play after back spasms before kickoff.
What comes next
Houston visits the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 15. The Chargers play at the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, November 16, facing former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
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