The Houston Texans have beaten the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on the road, clinching a playoff berth. The Texans scored 14 of their 20 points in the opening 10 minutes of the game, as C.J. Stroud hit Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown and then Jaylin Noel for a 43-yard score.

The Chargers pass defense entered Week 17 as one of the league's best units. But they were simply uncharacteristic in the opening quarter as the Texans hit on a pair of long touchdown passes. The Bolts had allowed two passing scores of 30-plus air yards through the first 15 games before allowing two against Houston.