A Shift in Momentum
The Los Angeles Chargers transformed a tight contest into a decisive win by unleashing an offensive surge in the second half, defeating the Houston Texans 27-7 at NRG Stadium. While the first quarter saw both teams trade scores to create a narrow margin, Los Angeles controlled the tempo from that point forward.
The victory improves the Chargers’ record to 1-0, while the Texans fall to 0-1 in their preseason opener on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Early Back and Forth
The game began with defensive discipline before opening up slightly in the first period. Los Angeles struck first when Cameron Dicker connected on a 34-yard field goal, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.
Houston responded quickly, taking the lead later in the quarter when Davis Mills found Jared Wayne for a five-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful kick from Chris Freeman to make it 7-3.
The Chargers reclaimed the advantage early in the second quarter. Amar Johnson broke through the Texans’ defense for a seven-yard rushing touchdown, and with Cameron Dicker’s extra point, Los Angeles led 10-7 at halftime. The scoring drought for Houston began there and would persist for the remainder of the game.
Closing It Out
Defense stifled the Texans in the middle frame as neither side scored in the third quarter. Cameron Dicker extended the Chargers’ lead to 13-7 with a 48-yard field goal late in the period. The decisive blow came in the fourth quarter, where Los Angeles capitalized on every opportunity.
Amar Johnson added another rushing score from one yard out, this time converting a two-point conversion run himself to make it 21-7. The Chargers sealed the game when DJ Uiagalelei connected with Devonte Ross on a three-yard touchdown pass. Although Cameron Dicker’s point-after attempt failed, the six points were sufficient to put the game out of reach.
Statistical Highlights
Davis Mills completed nine of 15 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown for Houston, but lacked the support to sustain drives after the first quarter. Noah Whittington led the Texans’ ground game with 40 rushing yards on 13 carries. Marlin Klein made his NFL debut, catching one pass for 31 yards.
For Los Angeles, Trey Lance contributed both through the air and on the ground, throwing for 164 yards with one interception while adding 27 rushing yards on three attempts. Amar Johnson was the standout performer, recording two receptions for 68 yards and two rushing touchdowns, proving crucial in turning a close game into a comfortable win.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401873274
