Stroud's five TDs lead Texans past Chargers 44-22 in Inglewood

A Dominant Offensive Display

C.J. Stroud orchestrated a comprehensive offensive performance on Sunday, throwing five touchdown passes to propel the Houston Texans to a decisive 44-22 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The win improved Houston’s record to 3-5, while the Chargers fell to 0-8 on the season.

Stroud completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 384 yards and five touchdowns, though he did throw one interception. His connection with Kayshon Boutte was particularly impactful; Boutte caught four passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard strike in the fourth quarter that extended Houston's lead to 38-9.

Scoring Progression

The Texans established control early, taking a 7-0 lead on an 17-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Xavier Hutchinson. The Chargers responded with a Cameron Dicker 52-yard field goal to make it 7-3. Houston answered before the end of the first quarter with a Ka'imi Fairbairn 56-yard field goal, pushing the advantage to 10-3.

The second quarter saw Los Angeles close the gap with two more Dicker field goals, bringing the score to 10-9 at halftime. However, Houston immediately regained momentum in the third period. Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a 13-yard touchdown pass, making it 31-9. The Texans continued their offensive pressure in the fourth quarter with another Boutte touchdown from 63 yards out.

Chargers' Late Effort Falls Short

Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent offense, relying heavily on Dicker’s kicking for points. Justin Herbert started at quarterback for the Chargers, completing 13 of 23 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown, but also threw one interception. Omarion Hampton contributed 60 rushing yards on 13 carries.

The Chargers managed to score in the fourth quarter when Quentin Johnston caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Herbert, though the subsequent two-point conversion failed. Later, Derius Davis added a 15-yard touchdown reception from DJ Uiagalelei, with Cameron Dicker’s kick making the final margin 44-22.

Key Statistics and Conclusion

While Houston’s ground game was less prolific than its aerial attack, Woody Marks provided steady work with 70 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Texans' defense held firm despite late Chargers scoring, allowing only 22 points in total.

The victory provides a boost for Houston as they look to climb the standings, while Los Angeles continues to search for its first win of the season. The game was played in front of 67,590 spectators at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Sources

ESPN