A C.J. Stroud flu game? Sick and with the chills, Texans QB throws for 5 TDs to beat Chargers

Back in his native Southern California, C.J. Stroud turned in one of the best games of his career as the Texans stayed in the playoff hunt with a win over the Chargers. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle) INGLEWOOD, Calif. - When C.J. Stroud woke up in his hotel bed Sunday morning in downtown Los Angeles, he was still feeling under the weather. All week he had been dealing with some kind of illness that he said gave him chills and "all the things." He said he barely practiced Thursday. Whatever he had, it was still with him. Yet, some six hours later, he went on to have one of the best games of his career. Stroud, who was playing in front of friends and family near his hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, threw for a season-high 384 yards, a career-high five touchdowns and just one interception in Houston's 44-22 rout of the Los Angeles Chargers (0-8) on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.Texans Insider with Jonathan M. AlexanderSign up for an in-depth newsletter with Houston Texans news, features and predictions.The 44 points scored were a season high for the Texans' offense, which has often delivered time and time again, especially on the road. The Texans improved to 3-5 on the season. It was the type of performance that will put Stroud in the MVP conversation if he can continue playing this way. It is the type of performance that will have some suggesting that the Texans can make a run towards the playoffs. "He really gives that confidence to the entire team," coach DeMeco Ryans said of Stroud. "When the defensive guys, they see him up making plays, everyone is excited. Everyone knows the type of energy, the type of momentum that that brings to our entire team when he's making those plays and he's done it all year."The Texans are currently 1 ½ games behind the Patriots for that final wild-card spot with nine games remaining. They face the Browns, who are also 1 ½ games ahead of them, next Sunday in Cleveland. But based on their upcoming schedule, and how Stroud is playing, anything is possible, especially if the defense can gain some momentum too. Though the performance from the defense wasn't perfect, Sunday's game against the NFL's worst offense was a step in the right direction.The Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. They also forced two turnovers - an interception by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and a fumble.But the offense, which had 485 yards of total offense, was the story of this game. And it started with Stroud, who became just the fourth quarterback younger than 26 years old with at least 350 passing yards and five touchdown passes in multiple games, joining Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino and Matthew Stafford.The other game Stroud achieved that stat line was during his 2023 rookie season, when he threw five touchdowns in a thrilling 39-37 win over the Bucs. Had it not been for his interception in the second quarter, Sunday's performance might have been better.  Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) runs past Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) for a 19-yard gain during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle) Stroud was dealing and it was never more evident than the 63-yard touchdown pass he threw to Tank Dell with 4:37 left in the second quarter.  Dell said they had run that play in practice this past week and it worked - except Nico Collins was the target then. But offensive coordinator Nick Caley decided to put Dell in that spot, hoping to take advantage of his speed and build momentum in Dell's second game back two years after suffering a major knee injury. Dell ran a double move, getting Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson on his back hip. Stroud then placed a pass perfectly into Dell's outstretched hands, avoiding Jackson who tried to deflect it. Dell then raced 35 yards downfield into the end zone for his first score in 23 months. "The ball placement on that play was insane," Ryans of the throw. "Outstanding ball placement, and Tank just ran underneath it. Huge play for us." The Texans would go on to score 28 consecutive points in the second and third quarters before Los Angeles' next score. Stroud had help from his receivers, too. Kayshon Boutte led the Texans with 125 yards and two TDs, his best game since he was traded to Houston prior to the season. Dell had 105 yards and a touchdown. And Collins had four catches for 55 yards and a TD. "Lights-out," Dell said of Stroud. "And we got his back and he knows he has a lot of receivers out there who he can trust.""We're going to keep building on this, and 7 (Stroud) - y'all see it day in and day out." TEXANS 44, CHARGERS 22Houston1014713-44L.A. Chargers36013-22First QuarterHou_Hutchinson 17 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 10:16. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 4:44. Key Plays: T.Smith kick return to Houston 27; Stroud 19 pass to Collins. Houston 7, L.A. Chargers 0. LAC_FG Dicker 52, 6:14. Drive: 10 plays, 34 yards, 4:02. Key Plays: Mitchell kick return to L.A. Chargers 32; J.Herbert 10 pass to Kolar; J.Herbert 10 pass to T.Harris on 3rd-and-5; Vidal 6 run on 3rd-and-9. Houston 7, L.A. Chargers 3. Hou_FG Fairbairn 56, 3:12. Drive: 9 plays, 26 yards, 3:02. Key Plays: Hutchinson kick return to Houston 36; Stroud 6 pass to Hutchinson on 3rd-and-6; Stroud 12 run. Houston 10, L.A. Chargers 3. Second QuarterLAC_FG Dicker 33, 8:13. Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 5:20. Key Plays: J.Herbert 7 pass to Gadsden on 3rd-and-4; Mitchell 11 run. Houston 10, L.A. Chargers 6. LAC_FG Dicker 43, 5:11. Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 2:12. Key Plays: Henley 18 interception return to Houston 38; Mitchell 11 run. Houston 10, L.A. Chargers 9. Hou_Dell 63 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 4:28. Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 00:43. Key Play: T.Smith kick return to Houston 32. Houston 17, L.A. Chargers 9. Hou_Boutte 12 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), :31. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 00:34. Key Plays: Stroud 14 pass to Schultz on 3rd-and-10; Stroud 15 pass to Harrison; Stroud 35 pass to Boutte. Houston 24, L.A. Chargers 9. Third QuarterHou_Collins 13 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 8:16. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:33. Key Plays: Stingley 0 interception return to Houston 20; Marks 14 run; Stroud 15 pass to Boutte on 3rd-and-1; Stroud 28 pass to Schultz; Stroud 8 run on 3rd-and-7. Houston 31, L.A. Chargers 9. Fourth QuarterHou_Boutte 63 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 14:12. Drive: 5 plays, 89 yards, 2:02. Houston 38, L.A. Chargers 9. LAC_Johnston 58 pass from J.Herbert (pass failed), 12:47. Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 1:25. Key Play: J.Herbert 10 pass to Gadsden. Houston 38, L.A. Chargers 15. Hou_FG Fairbairn 31, 8:50. Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 3:57. Key Plays: T.Smith kick return to Houston 25; Stroud 32 pass to Dell. Houston 41, L.A. Chargers 15. LAC_D.Davis 15 pass from Uiagalelei (Dicker kick), 4:19. Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 4:31. Key Plays: Vidal kick return to L.A. Chargers 29; Kolar 3 run on 3rd-and-1; Hampton 32 run. Houston 41, L.A. Chargers 22. Hou_FG Fairbairn 41, 2:20. Drive: 8 plays, 21 yards, 1:59. Key Plays: Dicker onside-kick returned by Stewart for 0 yards; Demercado 11 run on 3rd-and-1. Houston 44, L.A. Chargers 22. A_67,590.___HouLACFIRST DOWNS2214Rushing45Passing157Penalty32THIRD DOWN EFF8-145-17FOURTH DOWN EFF0-02-4TOTAL NET YARDS485315Total Plays6668Avg Gain7.34.6NET YARDS RUSHING104138Rushes2830Avg per rush3.7144.6NET YARDS PASSING381177Sacked-Yds lost1-108-40Gross-Yds passing391217Completed-Att.22-3715-30Had Intercepted11Yards-Pass Play10.0264.658KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB9-3-26-0-0PUNTS-Avg.3-35.3334-47.25Punts blocked00FGs-PATs blocked0-00-0TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE136168Punt Returns3-110-0Kickoff Returns5-1256-150Interceptions1-01-18PENALTIES-Yds6-369-79FUMBLES-Lost1-01-1TIME OF POSSESSION28:3331:27___INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING_Houston, Marks 18-70, Stroud 2-20, Demercado 6-16, Mills 2-(minus 2). L.A. Chargers, Hampton 13-60, Mitchell 7-33, Vidal 7-30, J.Herbert 1-7, Johnston 1-5, Kolar 1-3.PASSING_Houston, Stroud 21-35-1-384, Mills 1-2-0-7. L.A. Chargers, J.Herbert 13-23-1-193, Uiagalelei 2-7-0-24.RECEIVING_Houston, Boutte 4-125, Dell 4-105, Collins 4-55, Hutchinson 3-29, Schultz 2-42, Harrison 2-20, Demercado 1-8, Marks 1-4, Ogunbowale 1-3. L.A. Chargers, Mitchell 3-34, Kolar 3-31, T.Harris 3-6, Gadsden 2-17, Johnston 1-58, Lambert-Smith 1-50, Davis 1-15, Vidal 1-6.PUNT RETURNS_Houston, T.Smith 1-10, Dell 2-1. L.A. Chargers, None.KICKOFF RETURNS_Houston, T.Smith 4-97, Hutchinson 1-28. L.A. Chargers, Vidal 4-98, Mitchell 1-27, Davis 1-25.TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS_Houston, Pitre 6-0-0, Al-Shaair 4-5-0, Stewart 4-1-1, To'oTo'o 4-1-0, Bullock 3-2-0, Stingley 3-1-0, Rankins 3-0-2, McDonald 3-0-0, Togiai 2-2-0, Clowney 2-1-2, Anderson 2-0-2, L.Hall 2-0-1, Hunter 1-1-0, Jones 1-1-0, Lassiter 1-1-0, Hansen 1-0-0, Woodaz 1-0-0. L.A. Chargers, Henley 4-6-0, Molden 4-2-0, Mickens 4-1-0, Still 4-1-0, Jefferson 3-2-.5, Hart 2-2-0, Wax 1-7-0, Mesidor 1-1-0, Tart 1-1-0, Jackson 1-0-0, Shelley 1-0-0, Tomlinson 1-0-0, Eboigbe 0-2-0, Murphy 0-1-.5, Caldwell 0-1-0, Mack 0-1-0, Phillips 0-1-0, Tuipulotu 0-1-0.INTERCEPTIONS_Houston, Stingley 1-0. L.A. Chargers, Henley 1-18.MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.___OFFICIALS_Referee Alex Moore, Ump Terry Killens, HL Dana McKenzie, LJ Tom Eaton, FJ Mearl Robinson, SJ Anthony Jeffries, BJ Terrence Miles, Replay Jamie Nicholson.One of the more impressive things about Stroud's performance Sunday was that it came against a good Chargers defense. The Chargers' offense has been horrendous, but the only thing holding them together has been their defense. Coming into this game, the Chargers had given up just eight touchdown passes through eight weeks. But that certainly wasn't the case Sunday. Stroud picked them apart. He was surgical. Three of his touchdown passes were thrown only where the receiver could catch it. "Balling," Collins said, while nodding his head repeatedly. "Calm. Collected. Leader. You know the vibes."Dating back to Stroud's rookie season, the Texans are 7-0 when Stroud throws for three or more touchdowns in a game, including 2-0 this season. For the first time since his second season, the Texans' front office has surrounded Stroud with weapons he can throw to this offseason. Fortunately, most of them have stayed healthy this year and it has had a direct correlation to Stroud thriving. That and his offensive line, which allowed just one sack Sunday. Stroud is among the NFL's leaders in passing yards per game and he's statistically having the best season of his career - even better than his Offensive Rookie of the Year season. "Honestly, I'm getting more opportunities and I'm taking advantage of them," Stroud said. When asked if this was his "Michael Jordan flu game," a reference to the Chicago Bulls' legend's Game 5 performance in the 1997 NBA Finals, Stroud, who happened to be wearing Jordan brand gear, laughed. "Not there yet, but maybe one day," Stroud said, his voice sounding nasally. SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at A C.J. Stroud flu game? Sick and with the chills, Texans QB throws for 5 TDs to beat Chargers.