The Houston Texans are the sixth AFC team to qualify for the playoffs. Two early touchdowns were enough for the defensively strong team.

The Houston Texans have qualified for the NFL playoffs as the sixth AFC team. Head coach DeMeco Ryan’s team defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 (14-3).

Two touchdowns in the first two drives by Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in less than six minutes were enough for the defensively strong team against the offensively disappointing Chargers.

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The Texans thus achieved a feat they had last accomplished in 2018 – advancing to the playoffs despite starting the season with three losses. Only six teams had ever achieved this before.

L.A. had an off day. The best example of this was the final phase of the second quarter. After quarterback Justin Herbert led the Chargers to the 14-yard line and a potential score with a 60-yard pass to Quentin Johnston, tight end Oronde Gadsden knocked the ball into the air so unluckily while attempting to catch it on the ensuing play that Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair fell into the ball for an interception.

Although Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud also threw an interception just four plays later, Pro Bowl kicker Cameron Dicker missed a 32-yard field goal attempt with 14 seconds left in the game.

Dicker also missed the extra point on the touchdown to make it 16-20 – his first missed attempt of the season. The same was true for field goals between 30 and 40 yards.

Texans still in contention for first place

With 11 wins and 5 losses, the Texans still have a chance to win the AFC South, which is led by the Jacksonville Jaguars with a record of 11-4.

The Florida team will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on ran.de’s live ticker. The Colts, who were the best team in the NFL for a long time at the start of the season, are now certain to miss the playoffs following the Texans’ victory.

For the Chargers, who had already qualified for the playoffs before the game, there is no longer any chance of winning the AFC West, with the Denver Broncos now uncatchable at the top. In addition, the Chargers slipped from fifth to sixth place in the AFC rankings behind Houston.