Chargers-Texans live updates: Wild-card weekend is here!
The 2024-25 NFL playoffs are here and the festivities get started in Houston, where the 10-7 AFC South champion Texans host the 11-6 wild-card Los Angeles Chargers. This is a familiar position for the Texans — aside from what’s become a seemingly regular Saturday afternoon wild-card TV slot — in that they were in this same spot last year, opening the playoffs at home. Last January, Houston clobbered the Cleveland Browns 45-14 in C.J. Stroud’s first playoff game and he was solid, throwing for 267 yards with three touchdown passes.
Justin Herbert has made just one career playoff start, and it’s one that Chargers fans would like to forget. L.A. was last seen in the playoffs in January 2023, blowing a 27-7 third-quarter lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose 31-30 on a last-second field goal. This time, though, the Chargers’ defense may be better suited for a road challenge — the unit led the league, allowing just 17.7 points per game this season, and the Chargers did not allow any of their nine road opponents to score more than 20 points on their own home field.
How to watch Chargers vs. Texans AFC wild-card gameTime: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: NRG Stadium | Houston
Channel: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo
Live28 updates
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM GMT+1
C.J. Stroud salvages a near-disastrous playOn 3rd-and-16 from the Houston 17, C.J. Stroud fumbles the snap. But he recovers the ball, scrambles to his right and finds a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.
At the 2-minute warning, the Texans have a 1st-and-10 from the Chargers’ 49-yard
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:52 PM GMT+1
Intentional grounding? You make the callC.J. Stroud arguably committed an intentional grounding penalty on 2nd-and-3. That would’ve resulted in a safety, but the officials didn’t make that call.
The Texans get a first down on the next play with Stroud hitting Nico Collins for a five-yard gain.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:47 PM GMT+1
Putting Ladd McConkey’s rookie season into perspectiveLeave it to SpongeBob Squarepants to show fans how special Ladd McConkey is.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM GMT+1
Chargers punt pins Texans at their 1-yard lineL.A. can’t get another first down after that Ladd McConkey catch. But the Chargers get an outstanding punt from JK Scott. The kick goes 55 yards and Deane Leonard downs it at the Houston 1-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:42 PM GMT+1
Herbert to McConkey for 19 yardsThe Chargers faced a 3rd-and-12 at their 23, but Justin Herbert finds Ladd McConkey over the middle for a 19-yard gain.
McConkey has four catches for 56 yards thus far.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:37 PM GMT+1
Khalil Mack sacks C.J. StroudAfter the turnover, the Texans begin with a 13-yard pass to Nico Collins. But following an incompletion, Stroud is sacked by Khalil Mack for an eight-yard loss.
Stroud hit John Metchie for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-18, but the Texans have to punt. Tommy Townsend kicks it 50 yards and the Chargers are back at it from their 25-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM GMT+1
Justin Herbert interceptedThe Chargers and Texans trade interceptions.
Justin Herbert made an ill-advised throw, going across the field after rolling out to his right. His pass to Quentin Johnston gets picked off by Kamari Lassiter.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:31 PM GMT+1
C.J. Stroud interceptedC.J. Stroud is picked off throwing to John Metchie down the left sideline. Deane Leonard makes an excellent catch, getting both feet inbounds.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:25 PM GMT+1
Chargers puntJustin Herbert completed two consecutive passes to Ladd McConkey, covering 27 yards. J.K. Dobbins followed up with a six-yard run.
However, Herbert’s next two passes were incomplete (Quentin Johnston dropping a catch on 3rd-and-4) and the Chargers have to punt.
JK Scott kicks it 47 yards and the Texans take over at their 12-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:22 PM GMT+1
Houston opts to puntAfter appearing like they might go for it, the Texans opt to punt on 4th-and-11 from the Chargers’ 46. Tommy Townsend’s 38-yard kick pushes L.A. back to its own 8-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM GMT+1
End of 1st quarter: Chargers 6, Texans 0The first quarter ends with C.J. Stroud getting sacked for a five-yard loss by Joey Bosa. Stroud follows up with a nine-yard completion to Dalton Schultz on 3rd-and-15.
Houston ran its offense out there on 4th-and-6, trying to get the Chargers to move offsides before the quarter expired. But the clock ran out.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM GMT+1
Denzel Perryman questionable to returnChargers linebacker Denzel Perryman suffered an elbow injury making a tackle on the last series. He went to the locker room for examination.
#Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman, who played for this #Texans team last year, questionable to return with an elbow injury.
— Jon Poorman (@JonPoorman) January 11, 2025
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM GMT+1
Texans block the puntWill Herbert hits Justin Herbert as he throws on 3rd-and-9. The pass to Ladd McConkey goes incomplete and the Chargers have to punt.
D’Angelo Ross gets a piece of JK Scott’s punt, which goes only 35 yards. Texans take over at their 28-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:06 PM GMT+1
Chargers flagged for ineligible man downfieldJamaree Salyer is called for an ineligible man downfield penalty. Chargers move back to a 1st-and-15 from their 30-yard line.
Ineligible man downfield on LA.
15 offensive plays by the Chargers this quarter.
Four for the #Texans.
I’m sure that’s fine, right?
— Battle Red Blog (@battleredblog) January 11, 2025
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 11:02 PM GMT+1
Texans go 3-and-outOn 3rd-and-7 from the Houston 33, C.J. Stroud was flushed out of the pocket by Joey Bosa and scrambled to the right. Looking for John Metchie, he’s nearly intercepted.
Tommy Townsend kicks a 55-yard punt, but Kris Boyd commits a fair catch interference penalty on Derius Davis. That moves the Chargers from the 16-yard line to the 33 as they begin their third possession.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 10:56 PM GMT+1
Field goal: Chargers 6, Texans 0The Chargers can’t capitalize on the turnover with a touchdown. Justin Herbert is sacked for a nine-yard loss by Will Anderson and Mario Edwards Jr.
Herbert hit DJ Chark for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-19, but that wasn’t enough for the first down. Cameron Dicker hits a 39-yard field goal for his second of the game.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM GMT+1
Texans fumbleC.J. Stroud completed his first pass for the Texans. But after an eight-yard gain, receiver John Metchie fumbled. Alohi Gilman ripped the ball out.
Derwin James recovered for the Chargers and returned the turnover five yards. L.A. has the ball on the Houston 33-yard line.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 10:45 PM GMT+1
Field goal: Chargers 3, Texans 0J.K. Dobbins is tackled for a one-yard loss on 3rd-and-1 from the Texans’ 14, stalling the Chargers’ drive. L.A. has to settle for a field goal.
Cameron Dicker makes a 35-yarder to give the Chargers a 3–0 lead.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 10:44 PM GMT+1
Azeez Al-Shaair hit where no one wants to be hitReplay showed that Azeez Al-Shaair may have been hit in a delicate area by Tucker Fisk’s cleat while making a tackle.
However, he’s back in after going out for one play.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM GMT+1
Justin Herbert hot so farJustin Herbert has completed his first three passes for the Chargers, totaling 32 yards so far on their first drive.
