The Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers matchup was one of the notable games from Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. Played on December 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium, the Texans secured a 20–16 victory over the Chargers. Houston used two explosive touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud in the opening quarter to build an early 14–0 advantage.
Los Angeles fought back during the second half, but Houston’s defense held firm late in the game. Stroud finished with 244 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Justin Herbert recorded 236 passing yards and one touchdown. The result moved both teams to 11–5 at the time, while Houston secured a playoff berth with the victory.
Match Details
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers |
| Week | Week 17 |
| Season | 2025 NFL Regular Season |
| Date | December 27, 2025 |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium |
| Location | Inglewood, California |
| Final Score | Texans 20, Chargers 16 |
| Texans Record After Game | 11–5 |
| Chargers Record After Game | 11–5 |
| Game Status | Final |
Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
Houston made its biggest impact in the opening quarter, scoring twice on long touchdown receptions. Jayden Higgins caught a 75-yard touchdown from Stroud, followed by Jaylin Noel’s 43-yard touchdown reception.
The Chargers gradually reduced the deficit, but Houston answered with field goals in the third and fourth quarters. Los Angeles scored a fourth-quarter touchdown through Omarion Hampton but could not complete the comeback.
Houston Texans Passing Player Stats
C.J. Stroud directed Houston’s passing attack and completed 16 of 28 attempts for 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His two touchdown passes came on explosive plays of 75 and 43 yards.
| Player | Comp/Att | Pass Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Stroud | 16/28 | 244 | 2 | 2 | 80.1 |
| Team Total | 16/28 | 244 | 2 | 2 | 80.1 |
Stroud’s fast start was particularly important. According to NFL’s game analysis, he completed his first four passes for 142 yards and a perfect 158.3 passer rating before Houston’s offense became less efficient later in the game.
Los Angeles Chargers Passing Player Stats
Justin Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. He also contributed 37 rushing yards on six carries.
| Player | Comp/Att | Pass Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | 21/32 | 236 | 1 | 1 | 84.9 |
| Team Total | 21/32 | 236 | 1 | 1 | 84.9 |
Herbert was under considerable pressure throughout the contest. Houston recorded five sacks, and NFL reported that the Texans pressured Herbert on 38.1% of his dropbacks.
Houston Texans Rushing Player Stats
Woody Marks led Houston’s rushing attack with 19 carries for 71 yards. Jawhar Jordan added 36 yards on eight attempts, while the Texans finished with 118 rushing yards.
| Player | Carries | Rush Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woody Marks | 19 | 71 | 3.7 | 0 | 19 |
| Jawhar Jordan | 8 | 36 | 4.5 | 0 | 10 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 |
| Jaylin Noel | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nick Chubb | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| C.J. Stroud | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Team Total | 34 | 118 | 3.5 | 0 | 19 |
Houston’s rushing game became particularly important late in the contest as the Texans attempted to protect their four-point lead. Marks had several key carries during the final minutes while Houston used the clock to close out the win.
Los Angeles Chargers Rushing Player Stats
Justin Herbert led the Chargers in rushing with 37 yards on six carries, including a 28-yard scramble. Omarion Hampton added 29 yards and scored the Chargers’ final touchdown.
| Player | Carries | Rush Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | 6 | 37 | 6.2 | 0 | 28 |
| Omarion Hampton | 14 | 29 | 2.1 | 1 | 5 |
| Tre’ Harris | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 |
| Jaret Patterson | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Team Total | 22 | 74 | 3.4 | 1 | 28 |
Hampton’s five-yard touchdown run with 3:40 remaining brought Los Angeles within four points. However, Cameron Dicker missed the extra point, leaving the Chargers needing more than a field goal to take the lead.
Houston Texans Receiving Player Stats
Jayden Higgins was Houston’s leading receiver by yardage. He caught two passes for 88 yards and one touchdown, including the opening 75-yard score. Jaylin Noel added 54 yards and a touchdown on three receptions.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayden Higgins | 2 | 88 | 44.0 | 1 | 75 | 4 |
| Nico Collins | 3 | 57 | 19.0 | 0 | 23 | 4 |
| Jaylin Noel | 3 | 54 | 18.0 | 1 | 43 | 4 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| Dalton Schultz | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Christian Kirk | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Woody Marks | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Team Total | 16 | 244 | 15.3 | 2 | 75 | 26 |
The Texans became the second rookie duo in NFL history to each record a touchdown reception of at least 40 yards in the same game, with Higgins and Noel accomplishing the feat in the opening quarter.
Los Angeles Chargers Receiving Player Stats
Quentin Johnston led the Chargers with 98 receiving yards on five catches, including a 60-yard reception. Oronde Gadsden II caught three passes for 32 yards and scored Los Angeles’ other touchdown through the air.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Johnston | 5 | 98 | 19.6 | 0 | 60 | 8 |
| Oronde Gadsden II | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 1 | 25 | 6 |
| Ladd McConkey | 1 | 31 | 31.0 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Will Dissly | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| Keenan Allen | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| Tre’ Harris | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Team Total | 14 | 205 | 14.6 | 1 | 60 | 22 |
Johnston’s 98 receiving yards gave him the highest receiving total for either team. His 60-yard reception was also the Chargers’ longest completed pass of the game.
Key Player Performances
C.J. Stroud
Stroud’s performance featured two very different stretches. He opened the game with four consecutive completions for 142 yards and two touchdowns, but his production slowed considerably after those first two possessions. He ultimately finished with 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jayden Higgins
Higgins delivered one of the game’s biggest individual plays. His 75-yard touchdown reception gave Houston an early lead and accounted for most of his 88 receiving yards.
Jaylin Noel
Noel also produced an explosive touchdown reception, scoring on a 43-yard catch in the first quarter. He finished with three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Justin Herbert
Herbert finished with 236 passing yards and one touchdown while adding 37 rushing yards. His 28-yard third-quarter scramble helped extend a Chargers drive that eventually produced their first touchdown.
Quentin Johnston
Johnston was the Chargers’ leading receiver with five catches for 98 yards. His 60-yard reception was the longest reception by a Los Angeles player in the game.
Team Comparison and Game Statistics
| Statistic | Houston Texans | Los Angeles Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 20 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 362 | 275 |
| Passing Yards | 244 | 236 |
| Rushing Yards | 118 | 74 |
| Plays | 62 | 59 |
| Yards per Play | 5.8 | 4.7 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 30:21 | 29:39 |
| Penalties | 8 | 3 |
| Penalty Yards | 70 | 25 |
Houston finished with 362 total yards, compared with 275 for Los Angeles. The Texans also averaged 5.8 yards per play compared with 4.7 for the Chargers.
Defensive and Turnover Highlights
Houston’s defense was decisive after the Texans’ fast offensive start. The Chargers were limited to 275 total yards, and Houston recorded five sacks against Herbert. Danielle Hunter generated six pressures, including one sack, while Derek Barnett recorded two sacks.
Houston’s defense also held Los Angeles to only three points during three consecutive drives that reached at least the Texans’ 14-yard line during the second quarter. That sequence helped Houston preserve its early advantage.
Final Score and Key Takeaways
The Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans 20–16 on December 27, 2025. Houston’s 14-point opening quarter proved critical, with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel producing touchdown receptions of 75 and 43 yards.
The Chargers responded with 16 points after halftime, but Houston’s defense repeatedly stopped scoring opportunities. Herbert produced 236 passing yards and 37 rushing yards, while Quentin Johnston supplied 98 receiving yards.
The Texans’ defense finished the game with five sacks and helped Houston close out its eighth consecutive victory. The win also secured Houston a playoff berth.
Conclusion
The Houston Texans’ 20–16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers was built around explosive early passing plays and a strong defensive performance. C.J. Stroud’s two first-quarter touchdown passes gave Houston a 14–0 lead before the Chargers began to respond.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers continued competing throughout the game, but Houston’s defensive front consistently created pressure. The Texans ultimately held on for the victory at SoFi Stadium, improving to 11–5 and securing their place in the postseason.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Chargers vs Texans game in 2025?
The Houston Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20–16 on December 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium.
2. How many passing yards did C.J. Stroud have?
C.J. Stroud completed 16 of 28 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
3. How did Justin Herbert perform?
Justin Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 37 yards on six carries.
4. Who led the Chargers in receiving?
Quentin Johnston led the Chargers with 98 receiving yards on five receptions, including a 60-yard catch.
5. Who scored the Texans’ touchdowns?
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel each caught a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud. Higgins scored on a 75-yard reception, while Noel scored on a 43-yard reception.
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