Chargers Rout Texans 27-7 in Preseason Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers 27, Houston Texans 7 at Reliant Stadium. Trey Lance went 12 of 20 for 164 yards with 1 interception.
Quarter Scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chargers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 27 |
 Texans | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Texans Leaders
Chargers Leaders
Team Stats
| Chargers | Stat | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1st Downs | 10 |
| 12 | Passing 1st downs | 5 |
| 8 | Rushing 1st downs | 4 |
| 3 | 1st downs from penalties | 1 |
| 6-12 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-13 |
| 0-0 | 4th down efficiency | 0-2 |
| 60 | Total Plays | 52 |
| 379 | Total Yards | 209 |
| 6.3 | Yards per Play | 4.0 |
| 10 | Total Drives | 11 |
| 275 | Passing | 98 |
| 18/29 | Comp/Att | 13/22 |
| 8.9 | Yards per pass | 4.1 |
| 1 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
| 2-9 | Sacks-Yards Lost | 2-7 |
| 104 | Rushing | 111 |
| 29 | Rushing Attempts | 28 |
| 3.6 | Yards per rush | 4.0 |
| 3-4 | Red Zone (Made-Att) | 1-2 |
| 6-49 | Penalties | 10-71 |
| 2 | Turnovers | 1 |
| 1 | Fumbles lost | 1 |
| 1 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
| 0 | Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 |
| 32:15 | Possession | 27:45 |
Scoring Plays
6 scores Preseason Week 1: Chargers' Backup Split Meets Texans' Proven Fill-In
Read the full recap →The Los Angeles Chargers travel to NRG Stadium to face the Houston Texans on Thursday, August 13. Justin Herbert is expected to sit for Los Angeles, with Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei splitting reps behind him. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans has said a group of starters, including presumably C.J. Stroud, won't play, handing extended snaps to Davis Mills, who went 3-0 as a fill-in starter in 2025.
Chargers missing key starters beyond QB
Los Angeles will also be without left tackle Rashawn Slater, receiver Quentin Johnston and cornerback Tarheeb Still, further thinning an already backup-heavy lineup.
Davis Mills brings real starting experience
Unlike a typical backup evaluation game, Mills has actual 2025 game results to build on, giving Houston's offense more proven direction than most Preseason Week 1 units.
Lance-Uiagalelei split adds uncertainty for L.A.
With neither backup separating from the other, the Chargers' offensive rhythm could be inconsistent as both rotate in.
Pregame AI Prediction
How the prediction did
Predicted 16-22 (Chargers vs Texans), final was 27-7. Los Angeles routed Houston 27-7, the model's highest-confidence pick of the week (62% for Houston) and its worst miss, as Davis Mills's track record didn't translate to this game.
Chargers Texans Mills' proven track record is the clearest edge in this game
A backup with actual 2025 starting success gives Houston a more predictable floor than a Chargers group still auditioning two unproven arms.
Chargers' missing starters compound the disadvantage
Losing Slater, Johnston and Still on top of Herbert sitting leaves Los Angeles without much established talent on the field.
Home environment adds a modest boost for Houston
NRG Stadium gives the Texans a slight additional edge in an otherwise backup-driven matchup.
This is a preseason exhibition, but the presence of a proven fill-in starter like Mills, rather than a pure camp battle, gives this projection more confidence than a typical Preseason Week 1 game.
Venue
Closing Line
Officials
Futures odds for these teams
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
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Texans Injuries