Where was this performance all season, and can we get more of it, please?
The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Wild Card Weekend:
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The 2nd Quarter, where two plays involving throwing across the QB’s body shaped the course of the game:
- 1st and 10 from the HOU 40 (11:39, 2nd): The LA Chargers, after a highlight-reel INT, had the ball once again in Houston territory. To this point in the game, it was all LA. They dominated in yardage (104 to 39), time of possession (12:15 to 4:36) and turnovers (2 to 0). Again in Houston territory, it seemed like LA could break the game open. The 1st play from scrimmage, Herbert took the snap, rolled out to his right, and then threw across the field, off-balanced, to a breaking Quentin Johnson. Multiple Texans’ defensive backs ran with him, but an on-target throw gets LA a 1st and goal. Instead, the cross-body/cross-field throw ended up in the arms of Kamari Lassiter. Houston regained possession at the 10.
- 3rd and 16 from the HOU 17 (2:24, 2nd): The Texans faced another 3rd and long. Very likely, the Chargers figured to get the ball back with plenty of time to add to their 6-0 lead. Things appeared to go from bad to worse as QB CJ Stroud seemingly took his eyes off the snap, and the ball sailed past his right shoulder. A fortuitous bounce saw Stroud recover the ball in stride, rolling right to avoid the Chargers’ defenders. Before he ran out of bounds, Stroud saw a breaking Xavier Hutchinson, deep down the field in a gap in the LA secondary. It was a cross-body type throw, but Stroud got enough on the ball to find Hutchinson, who completed a 34-yard catch and run to the LA 49.
Two plays, two different outcomes. While Houston didn’t score on the drive following the 1st INT, it did blunt the Chargers’ momentum. LA got the ball back, but could only muster a punt, which pinned Houston deep, setting up the second key play. The play to Hutchinson seemingly sparked something in Stroud and the Houston offense. For the first time arguably all season, the gunslinging thrower of Stroud’s rookie year returned. Two completions to Collins later, and Houston, despite being outplayed all game to that point, moved ahead 7-6. The general rule of thumb is that QB should never throw across his body to the middle/opposite side of the field (high risk for maybe not that high a reward). For the Chargers, it proved disastrous. For the Texans, game-breaking.
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Joe Mixon and the left side of the Texans’ offensive line, a closing formula: Coming into the 4th quarter, Mixon’s game was most notable for the personal foul he committed on the non-interception in the red zone. Once the 4th quarter hit, business picked up for the Pro Bowler. 10 carries for 57 yards on the big 4th quarter drive that effectively ended the game. Of his 10 carries, five went to the left side of the Houston line, accounting for 39 yards and one TD. For Mixon and the left side of the offensive line, a massive bounce-back after some less-than-stellar performances.
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Line play, advantage Houston: Coming into this matchup, the Chargers figured to have an advantage in their line play. Early on. the Chargers pressed that advantage. However, Houston’s defensive line kept the Texans in the game. This provided critical as game momentum shifted towards Houston. A combination of a game getting away from them, questionable play calling and the Houston defensive front saw the Chargers abandon the run, not something that bodes well for a Greg Roman offense. 18 carries for 50 yards proved the final Chargers’ rushing totals. Meanwhile, Houston’s maligned offensive line allowed the Texans to rush 34 times for 168 yards. Stroud was sacked three times and forced into one INT, but Herbert suffered four sacks and four INTs, with the Houston defensive line throwing him off-kilter.
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FUN WITH NUMBERS:
43-6: The scoring margin in the second half of Wild Card games at home under DeMeco Ryans. In two seasons at the helm of the Texans, Ryans led the squad to two home playoff wins. In particular, the Houston Texans turn it on in the 2nd half of those games, especially on the defensive side. Along with keeping teams off the scoreboard, the defense is outscoring offenses 18-6 in those two second halves. Getting five second-half INTs helps.
11: Number of passes defended by Houston. Most capital cities don’t have the air defense Houston did on this day. Along with the 4 INTs, Houston defended 11 passes, doing much to contribute to Herbert’s worst game of the season. For reference, the record for passes defended in a playoff game is 17, when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Playoffs in 2005.
2-1: CJ Stroud’s playoff record. This also moves him into 1st all-time in Texans’ playoff wins as a starting QB. All other Texans’ QB with a playoff win have just one (T.J. Yates, Matt Schaub, Brock Osweiler, Deshaun Watson). Now about that first divisional playoff win…
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GAME BALLS:
CB Derek Stingley, Jr.: What a way to validate a 1st team All-Pro selection. His stat line: four tackles (all solo), two INTs, FIVE passes defended. Along with those plays, his on-target defense on Quentin Johnson on a 4th and 2 on the Chargers 1st offensive possession of the second half killed a major momentum chance for LA.
QB CJ Stroud: 22 of 33 for 282 yards, one TD and one INT. This might arguably be Stroud’s best game of the season. He started the game sluggish, like his other late-season performances. Yet, after that 3rd and 16 conversion in the 2nd quarter, everything changed. The confident thrower returned. Stroud even ran for 42 yards on 6 carries to offer balance. Even his rookie-year luck seemed to return, when the Chargers dropped two certain INTs during the game.
RT Blake Fisher: Much is made of the rookie defensive backs Kamari Lassiter and Caden Bullock, and for good reason, but give it up for OT Blake Fisher. The 2nd round lineman out of Notre Dame figured to be a swing tackle/depth player for his rookie season. Yet, with all the injuries and ineffectiveness of the Texans’ line, Fisher got pressed into the starting lineup. With the move of Howard to guard, Fisher took over as right tackle. While not perfect, he held up more than well-enough to allow Houston’s offense to produce its best performance in some time.
RB Joe Mixon: NVP. All that need be said.
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WR Ladd McConkey: You put up nine receptions for 197 yards and a massive TD, especially against a secondary with Derek Stingley Jr., you get a shoutout, even if you play for the adversary.
LA/California-based Firefighters/First Responders: Given all they are doing, a BRB game ball is the least we can do (well, that and contribute to relief efforts).
SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO THE INANE COMMENTARY ON ESPN’S SPORTS TALK SHOWS ON REPEAT WHILE UPDATING THEIR WARDROBE TO WEAR THE JIM HARBAUGH LINE OF CHEAP SLACKS.
Rex Ryan: A “bye week”? Oh, he isn’t getting excoriated on social media repeatedly and deservedly since the final whistle from this game. Sure, he owned up to it, but still, he won’t be dealing with a constant torrent of comments from the 713 area code for the rest of the week. Nope, not at all.
Dean Spanos: Seriously dude, rename the [KITTEN] team! I had to correct myself multiple times as I wanted to call them the San Diego Chargers. You moved out of San Diego, giving that city the middle finger. At least give the squad a new name.
With that, Houston plans a revenge tour as they travel back to Arrowhead to face the #1 seed, two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Kickoff slated for Saturday, 3:30 CST on ABC/ESPN.