The Texans offense was listless, but then a wild play by C.J. Stroud in the Wild Card playoff got things rolling.
Houston triumphed, 32-12, over the Chargers on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium, but with 2:24 remaining in the first half, things looked bleak for the home team.
Trailing 6-0, Stroud and the Texans faced a 3rd-and-16 at their own 17-yard line. The drive had started at Houston's 1-yard line, and with a tripping penalty involved, it had taken the Texans seven plays to pick up the 16 yards thusfar on the possession. The drive before that one, like two others in the half, had ended in a punt. Two others ended in turnovers.
Out of the shotgun, Stroud saw the snap sail through his hands. He picked up the fumble, ran to his right--and for his life--and uncorked a deep pass to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson. The second-year pro pulled it in, and the Texans had themselves a 1st-and-10 at the Chargers' 49-yard line at the 2-minute warning. Five plays later they were in the end zone, en route to a finish that saw them score 32 points to just six more from Los Angeles.
"That was the play of the game," Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said. "That really created momentum for our entire team."
The home crowd erupted after the heroics, and the quarterback saw and felt the momentum change instantly.
"After we made the completion, I looked at the sideline," Stroud said. "Everybody was turnt up. So that turned me up because I was still kind of mad at myself. Those are the type of plays that change momentum. That's when a team can rally around plays like that."
After those first five possessions ended in punts or turnovers, the next eight series on offense resulted in two touchdowns, a trio of field goals, a fumble, a punt and kneeling out the clock in victory formation. Sprinkle in an Eric Murray interception for a score at the end of the third quarter, and Houston sailed to its' sixth Wild Card win in franchise history.
For his part, Hutchinson didn't know the game-changing play started out so precariously.
"To be honest with you, I didn't even know the whole snap thing had happened," Hutchinson said. "I just thought I was wide open and he was just scrambling to the right. But that's "7" (Stroud's jersey number). That's the type of plays he makes. I just wanted to make the play for the team. Got it jumpstarted, I guess you could say."
Stroud finished the day completing 22-of-33 passes for 282 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and a passer rating of 90.7. He also ran six times for 42 yards.
"That's what it looks like when your best players step up and make the plays," Ryans said. "That's what playoff football is about. That's what being a big-time player in the league is about."
Stroud and the Texans await the results of Wild Card weekend before they know who they'll face next week in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
