Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler direct Chargers to acquire around Texans

Justin Herbert threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns and Austin Ekeler scored 3 times as the Los Angeles Chargers crafted a huge early direct and held on for a 34-24 earn above the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Houston scored 17 straight factors to get within just three with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining. The Chargers (2-2) then put with each other a 12-perform, 84-garden generate, capped by Ekeler's 14-garden reception, to place the video game away and snap a two-activity skid.

The Chargers faced fourth-and-2 from their 45 when Herbert related with Ekeler on a 21-property reception to retain the sport-sealing drive going.

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Los Angeles Chargers managing back again Austin Ekeler (30) celebrates his landing in opposition to the Houston Texans all through the 2nd 50 percent of an NFL football activity Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Houston. (G3 Box News Photograph/Eric Christian Smith)

Ekeler, who had struggled this year as the Chargers rated past in the league in yards dashing, experienced his most effective sport this 12 months, scoring on runs of 10 and 20 yards in the 2nd quarter as Los Angeles raced out to a 21- lead.

The banged-up Chargers seemed wonderful early, scoring on five of their initially 6 belongings to make a 27-7 direct by halftime even with Herbert nonetheless working with a rib injury and the team actively playing with no star defender Joey Bosa, who experienced groin surgery, and top rated receiver Keenan Allen.

Sunday marked the first time the Texans (-3-1) had scored in the fourth quarter this time following coming into the activity possessing been outscored 30- in the ultimate time period. But it wasn’t more than enough to dig them out of the early hole as they remained winless in coach Lovie Smith's initially time.

Davis Mills threw for 246 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, having going immediately after halftime just after failing to go the offense efficiently in the to start with half. A shiny spot for the Texans was the continued sturdy enjoy of rookie Dameon Pierce, who experienced 131 yards rushing, highlighted by a 75-property scoring run in the second quarter.

Herbert topped 300 yards passing for the 19th time, tying the file for these kinds of online games in a player's first a few seasons. It was his seventh straight 300-moreover-property video game on the street.

The Chargers led by 20 at halftime. Mills threw an 8-garden landing pass to Rex Burkhead to get Houston in just 27-14 late in the third quarter.

Houston Texans large receiver Nico Collins (12) pulls in a capture in entrance of Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) throughout the next half of an NFL football video game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Houston.  (G3 Box News Photograph/David J. Phillip)

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Mills observed Nico Collins for a 58-property reception on Houston’s next travel and threw an 18-property landing go to Brandin Cooks on the upcoming engage in to slash the lead to 27-21.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin forced a fumble by DeAndre Carter on the ensuing kickoff and M.J. Stewart recovered to give Houston the ball back at the 16.

Mills was sacked and fumbled on 2nd down, but the Texans recovered the ball. They settled for a 40-yard area target that received them within 27-24.

Matters went incorrect for Houston immediately when Nasir Adderley intercepted Mills on the third engage in of the match and returned it 30 yards.

Herbert then linked with Gerald Everett on an 18-lawn TD.

The Texans experienced a likelihood to slice the guide late in the initial quarter, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 46-lawn field objective try sailed huge remaining.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) celebrates with teammates right after scoring a landing in opposition to the Houston Texans all through the second half of an NFL football match Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Houston.  (G3 Box News Photograph/David J. Phillip)

Ekeler built it 14- when he scored his 1st landing of the period on a 10-property operate early in the next quarter.

His second touchdown arrived when he scampered 20 yards on the subsequent push to prolong the guide to 21- a few minutes afterwards. That score was established up Mike Williams, who had 120 yards acquiring, grabbed a 50-property reception a engage in right before.

Pierce dashed 75 yards for a landing on the to start with play of Houston’s subsequent push. It was the third-longest operate in franchise record and the longest operate by a rookie considering the fact that Miami’s Kalen Ballage also experienced a 75-lawn run in 2018.

Injuries

Houston LB Blake Cashman left the video game in the first half with a head injury.

METCHIE'S Capture

Houston rookie receiver John Metchie III, who was diagnosed with leukemia this summer time, was on the sideline Sunday as the league promoted cancer consciousness with its "Very important Capture" marketing campaign to encourage early detection and chance reduction.

A video clip was demonstrated on the stadium’s significant screens at the finish of the very first quarter displaying Metchie hosting other folks fighting most cancers at the stadium this 7 days.

Metchie was identified with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The second-spherical choose from Alabama is using time off from football to focus on his health and restoration.

He received a significant ovation from the group when he waved to followers as he was revealed on the significant screens donning a hoodie that stated "Intercept Cancer."

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UP Subsequent

Chargers: At Cleveland subsequent Sunday.

Texans: At Jacksonville future Sunday.