A Second-Half Surge Secures the Win
The Los Angeles Chargers navigated a tricky start to secure a 27-7 victory over the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Friday, August 14, 2026. After falling behind early, the visiting squad unleashed a dominant fourth-quarter offensive display to pull away, improving their record to 1-0 while dropping the home team to 0-1.
Early Scoring and Halftime Standoff
Houston struck first to silence the home crowd. Quarterback Davis Mills connected with Jared Wayne on a 5-yard touchdown pass, followed by a Chris Freeman kick, giving the Texans a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. The Chargers answered before halftime when Amar Johnson scored on a 7-yard run, with Cameron Dicker adding the extra point to take a 10-7 lead into the break.
The third quarter saw defensive struggles on both sides, but the Chargers managed to extend their lead slightly. Cameron Dicker drilled a 48-yard field goal, pushing the score to 13-7. Despite Mills completing 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, the Texans’ offense stalled, unable to match the Chargers’ ground game.
Fourth-Quarter Dominance
The game was decided in the final period. Amar Johnson broke loose for a 1-yard touchdown run and successfully converted a two-point conversion, himself, to make it 21-7. The Chargers sealed the deal late in the quarter when DJ Uiagalelei found Devonte Ross for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Although Cameron Dicker’s extra point attempt failed, the 6-point play made the final margin 27-7.
