HOUSTON — Austin Ekeler ran for two first-half touchdowns, the Chargers’ first rushing scores of the season, and Justin Herbert threw for two TDs as the Chargers ended a two-game losing streak with a 34-24 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
Nasir Adderley’s interception and 30-yard return on the Texans’ first possession set the Chargers up for Herbert’s 18-yard TD pass to tight end Gerald Everett and a 7-0 lead only three minutes into the game.
Herbert showed no signs of the rib injury he suffered Sept. 15 against Kansas City.
Ekeler scored on runs of 10 and 20 yards in the second quarter as the Chargers built a 21-0 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half. Houston countered with Dameon Pierce’s 75-yard scoring run to cut it to 21-7, but that was all the Texans could manage in a lackluster first half.
Pierce finished with 131 yards on 14 carries, his first 100-yard rushing game.
Davis Mills’ eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Rex Burkhead cut the Chargers’ lead to 27-14 with 1:12 in the third quarter. The Texans (0-3-1) blanked the Chargers (2-2) in the third quarter, but their first-half deficit was too much to overcome in the second half.
Mills then hit Brandin Cooks for an 18-yard TD to cut the Houston deficit to 27-10 with 10:02 left in the game. Mills set up the score with a 58-yard pass play to Nico Collins, who outran the Chargers’ coverage. Adderley made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Chargers 18.
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 40-yard field goal cut it further to 27-24 with 8:30 to play, after Houston recovered DeAndre’s fumbled kickoff return at the Chargers’ 16. But the Chargers sealed the deal with Herbert’s 14-yard TD pass to Ekeler with 2:28 remaining in the game.
