• The Houston Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in a wild-card playoff game.
• C.J. Stroud led the Texans with a touchdown pass while their defense recorded four interceptions against Justin Herbert.
• The victory marks the second consecutive year the Texans have won in the first round of the playoffs, following last season's win over Cleveland.
• Chargers, under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, have now missed the playoffs since 2018.
• Houston will advance to the divisional round, continuing their quest for the franchise’s first AFC Championship game appearance.

In a decisive wild-card playoff matchup, the Houston Texans triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers with a commanding score of 32-12. The Texans, who finished the regular season with an 11-7 record, secured their postseason win thanks to a series of crucial plays and a stellar defensive performance. After a sluggish start where they initially struggled to generate offense, they broke through late in the first half with a 13-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins, turning a 6-0 deficit into a 7-6 lead before halftime.

Stroud demonstrated his ability to rally his team, throwing for 282 yards and connecting for a touchdown. Notably, he joined elite company as one of the few quarterbacks to win playoff games in their first two seasons, following in the footsteps of legends like Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.

The game's turning point came in the third quarter when Eric Murray returned one of Justin Herbert's four interceptions—a career high for the Chargers quarterback—for a 38-yard pick-six, extending the Texans' lead significantly. This defensive prowess was complemented by two more interceptions from All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley, as the Texans’ defense dominated throughout the contest.

Despite Herbert's team-high 242 passing yards, his performance was marred by his inability to secure the ball and lead scoring drives. The Chargers, now out of the playoffs again, will look to rebuild after a disappointing season under Harbaugh. With this victory, the Texans now set their sights on the divisional round, where they hope to secure their first appearance in the AFC Championship.

For more details, visit the full reports from The Guardian, AP News, and USA Today.