The Houston Texans capitalized on a rare off day from Justin Herbert to edge the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 in the wild-card round.
Herbert, who entered the game having thrown just three interceptions all season and had never thrown more than two in a game, was picked off three times by the Texans defense. Derek Stingley Jr. hauled in two interceptions, while rookie Kamari Lassiter added a diving pick that shifted the game’s momentum.
Under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers returned to the playoffs but were eliminated in the wild-card round for the second straight year. The loss extended their postseason win drought, which dates back to 2018.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud orchestrated a balanced offensive attack, throwing for 283 yards and a touchdown to Nico Collins, who caught seven passes for 122 yards. Joe Mixon chipped in with 106 rushing yards and a score, powering Houston to the divisional round.
PFF's dedicated team of graders was hard at work, analyzing every player on every play in real time. The grades and data will be available after a thorough review tomorrow at noon ET.
In the meantime, we’ve gathered some high-level data and snap counts from the game to give you an early look. Our expert graders have also nominated the standout player of the game, highlighting exceptional performance on the field.
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HIGHEST-GRADED PLAYERS
- S Tony Jefferson, Los Angeles Chargers (91.4)
- CB Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (90.5)
- WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (90.3)
Note: Follow along with PFF's in-game grading as our analysts evaluate every player on every play in real time! Grades will then be relocked 90 minutes after the final whistle as our first-run analysis is reviewed.
Click here to see PFF's initial grades from this game!
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter allowed just a 69.1 passer rating on throws into his coverage during the regular season, the second-best mark among first-year corners, and he kept up that level of performance in his first NFL playoff game.
Targeted twice in coverage, Lassiter forced an incompletion and made a game-changing diving interception at the Texans' 10-yard line with the Chargers leading 6-0. The pick sparked a momentum shift that proved pivotal.
Lassiter allowed a perfect 0.0 passer rating on throws into his coverage, showcasing the poise and playmaking ability that have defined his standout rookie campaign.
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