The Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, in a Week 9 game that turned into a one-sided win for the visitors. C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns, and Houston outgained Los Angeles 485 yards to 315. The Texans went on a 28-0 run, built a lead of as many as 29 points, and led 38-9 in the fourth quarter. The win moved Houston to 3-5, while the Chargers fell to 0-8 and stayed winless, still on track for the No. 1 overall pick.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Final score | Houston Texans 44, Los Angeles Chargers 22 |
| Date | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Week | NFL Week 9 |
| Stadium | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Texans record | 3-5 |
| Chargers record | 0-8 |
| C.J. Stroud passing | 384 yards and five touchdowns |
| Total yards | Houston 485, Los Angeles 315 |
| Largest Houston lead | 29 points, 38-9 in the fourth quarter |
| Houston scoring run | 28-0 |
| Key defensive play | Derek Stingley interception, his first of the season |
| Final scoring play | Ka’imi Fairbairn 41-yard field goal with 2:20 left |
Stroud Takes Control and Never Lets Go
From the first drives of the game, C.J. Stroud played with a calm command that set the tone for the whole afternoon. He threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns, and he spread the ball around in a way that kept the Los Angeles defense guessing. His touchdown passes went to Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, Kayshon Boutte and Nico Collins, which meant four different receivers found the end zone in the same game.
The numbers tell the story in a simple way. Houston finished with 485 yards of total offense, while Los Angeles finished with 315 yards. That gap of 170 yards shows how much more often Houston moved the ball. When a team gains that many more yards, it usually means it is winning on first down and giving its quarterback clean chances to throw. Stroud took those chances, and the scoreboard kept moving with him.
A 28-0 Run Turns the Game Into a Rout
The defining stretch of the game was the 28-0 run by Houston. A run like that does not happen by accident. It happens when one team starts to win on both sides of the ball at the same time, when the offense scores and the defense gets stops. Once Houston started to pull away, Los Angeles had no easy answer.
Houston led by as many as 29 points, and the score reached 38-9 in the fourth quarter. That is a lead that changes how both teams play. The team in front can stay balanced and take fewer risks, while the team behind has to throw more and play with less margin for error.
The final score of 44-22 came after Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:20 left. The Chargers did score late, with Justin Herbert throwing a touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis catching a 15-yard touchdown pass. Those scores made the final margin look closer than the game felt for much of the second half, but they did not change the result.
The win also fits into a busy weekend of results around the league. The Lions beat the Dolphins 19-9 for their fourth straight win, which shows how fast a strong team can build momentum once it starts to win. Houston is trying to build that same kind of run after a slow start, and Sunday was a clear step in that direction.
Collins and the Receiving Group Share the Night
Nico Collins made one of the most memorable plays of the game when he caught an acrobatic touchdown to make it 31-9. That catch was Stroud’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, tied for his second-most in an NFL game. The play put Houston ahead by 22 points, which made the game feel out of reach for Los Angeles.
The other touchdown catches mattered just as much. Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell and Kayshon Boutte each caught a touchdown pass from Stroud. When four receivers score in the same game, it tells you that the offense is not built around one player.
For Dell, Boutte and Hutchinson, the value of a touchdown catch goes beyond the points. It gives each player a moment in a big win, and it gives the defense one more player to respect on the next drive. When all four receivers have scored, the defense has to respect all of them. That opens up space for the next play, and it makes the offense harder to stop.
Stingley Interception Sets Up the Dagger
Defense often decides games that look like offensive blowouts, and Sunday was a good example. Cornerback Derek Stingley intercepted a pass, his first of the season, to set up a short field for the Collins touchdown. An interception gives the offense a short field, which means fewer yards to gain and a better chance to score.
The timing of the play made it even more important. The Collins touchdown that followed the interception made the score 31-9, and that score put Houston in a position where Los Angeles needed a near-perfect finish just to make the game close. Houston used the short field well, and the lead grew to a point where the Chargers had little room left to recover.
For Stingley, the interception was his first of the season, and it came at a moment when the team needed a defensive play to match the offensive output. A cornerback who makes a play like that changes how the opposing quarterback sees the field. The play also showed how the two sides of the ball can work together. The defense created the chance, and the offense finished it.
The Broncos beat the Panthers 26-21 for a record 16th straight one-score win, which is a very different kind of win from the one Houston earned on Sunday. Denver won a close game, while Houston won by a wide margin. Both kinds of wins count the same in the standings, but a blowout like this one can do more for a team’s confidence, because it shows that the team can control a game from start to finish.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
For Houston, the win moves the team to 3-5, and the recent form is the real story. The Texans started 0-4, and they have now won three of their last four games. That is a strong recovery, and it gives the team a base to build on. The next three games will test that progress. Houston faces the Browns, the Colts and the Ravens in its next three games.
For Los Angeles, the picture is very different. The Chargers are now 0-8, and they are still on track for the No. 1 overall pick. That is a hard place to be in Week 9. Every week without a win makes the next week harder, because the pressure grows and the questions get louder. The Chargers travel to play the Ravens in Week 10, and that game will be another test for a team that is still looking for its first win.
The Chargers did show some fight late in the game. Herbert threw a touchdown pass to Johnston, and Davis caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. Those scores did not change the result, but they showed that the team kept playing. The challenge for Los Angeles now is to turn that late fight into a full game.
The Bengals beat the Falcons 34-17 in Madrid, which was another big road win on the same weekend. Houston’s win fits that same pattern. A team that can travel, play well on the road, and win by a wide margin is a team that is starting to believe in itself. The Texans will need that belief in the weeks ahead, because the Browns, Colts and Ravens will each test them in a different way.
FAQs
What was the final score of Texans vs Chargers in Week 9?
The Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Houston outgained Los Angeles 485 yards to 315, went on a 28-0 run, and led by as many as 29 points.
How did C.J. Stroud play against the Chargers?
C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdown passes went to Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, Kayshon Boutte and Nico Collins. The Collins touchdown made it 31-9, and it was Stroud’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, tied for his second-most in an NFL game.
What is the record for each team after the game?
Houston moved to 3-5 after the win. The Texans have won three of their last four games after starting the season 0-4. Los Angeles fell to 0-8 and is still winless, still on track for the No. 1 overall pick.
Who do the Texans and Chargers play next?
Houston plays the Browns, the Colts and the Ravens in its next three games. The Chargers travel to play the Ravens in Week 10.
Sources
Final Thoughts
The Texans beat the Chargers 44-22 in a game that showed how fast a season can change. Houston started 0-4, and now it has won three of its last four games. C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns, four different receivers caught touchdown passes, and Derek Stingley made his first interception of the season to set up a short field for the Collins touchdown. Houston outgained Los Angeles 485 yards to 315, went on a 28-0 run, and led 38-9 in the fourth quarter. The Chargers scored late, with Herbert finding Johnston and Davis catching a 15-yard touchdown pass, and Fairbairn closed the scoring with a 41-yard field goal with 2:20 left. For Houston, the next three games against the Browns, Colts and Ravens will show if this turnaround can last. For Los Angeles, the search for a first win goes on, with a trip to Baltimore next in Week 10.
