C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes and the Houston Texans routed the Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, handing Los Angeles the worst start in franchise history and leaving quarterback Justin Herbert hurt and facing tests on an injured finger. Stroud finished 21 of 35 for 384 yards with one interception, and two of his scoring throws covered 63 yards each, to Tank Dell and Kayshon Boutte, as Houston outgained Los Angeles 485-315 and sacked Herbert a career-high eight times.

Key Points

• C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns (21-of-35), with two 63-yard scoring strikes to Tank Dell and Kayshon Boutte.
• Tank Dell caught four passes for 105 yards in his second game back after nearly two years out with a serious knee injury.
• Houston sacked Justin Herbert a career-high eight times; Will Anderson, Sheldon Rankins and Jadeveon Clowney had two each.
• Herbert injured the middle finger of his left, non-throwing hand on a Logan Hall sack; Jim Harbaugh said, “It could be a fracture.” Testing on Monday.
• The Chargers fell to 0-8, their worst start ever, after ending a 37-drive touchdown drought on Herbert’s 58-yard pass to Quentin Johnston.

What Happened

The Texans took control in Inglewood, California, with a passing attack the Chargers could not slow down. Stroud’s two longest throws both went for touchdowns from 63 yards out, one to Dell and one to Boutte, and Houston piled up 485 yards of total offence, 170 more than Los Angeles managed. Once the big plays started landing, the visitors never let the game get close.

The pressure on Herbert was relentless: eight sacks, the most he has ever taken in a game, with the hits continuing into the fourth quarter. It was on a Logan Hall sack that Herbert hurt the middle finger of his left hand and left the game, finishing 13 of 23 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His 58-yard scoring pass to Quentin Johnston ended a 37-drive touchdown drought, the second-longest in NFL history, and backup DJ Uiagalelei threw his first career touchdown in his NFL debut.

Background: Two Teams Heading in Opposite Directions

The Chargers arrived at SoFi Stadium already in trouble: winless through seven games, with an offensive line that had been unable to protect Herbert all season. He has now been sacked 31 times this year, the second-most of any quarterback in the league, and Sunday was the worst of it. At 0-8, the Chargers have made the worst start in franchise history, and the 37-drive touchdown drought that ended on Sunday was the second-longest the NFL has ever seen.

Houston, by contrast, found exactly the performance it needed: a five-touchdown afternoon from Stroud, a pass rush that set the tone, and an offence that finished drives instead of settling for field goals. It was a complete performance, and it came against a team that could not answer it.

Texans Rout Chargers 44-22: Stroud’s Five-Touchdown Night

The defining image was Stroud standing tall and throwing deep. His 384 yards came on just 21 completions, more than 18 yards per catch, and the two 63-yard touchdowns showed how quickly Houston could turn a routine drive into a rout. Dell’s 105 yards came in only his second game back after nearly two years away with a serious knee injury, and Boutte’s 63-yard score underlined how many weapons Stroud had. The Chargers’ secondary had no answer when Houston pushed the ball downfield.

For Stroud, it was the kind of game that resets the conversation around a quarterback: five touchdowns, nearly 400 yards and a 22-point road win. His one interception was a footnote on a day when almost everything else he tried worked, and Houston made the most of the home team’s desperation.

Reactions and Quotes

The biggest question after the game was Herbert’s hand. Coach Jim Harbaugh did not hide the concern, saying: “It could be a fracture.” Herbert will undergo testing on Monday, and the Chargers will wait on the results before knowing whether their quarterback can play next week.

Herbert himself was calmer, saying he does not expect the injury to be an issue. But the same hand was surgically repaired during the 2025 season, so any fresh problem will be treated with caution, and the team cannot afford to lose him at 0-8.

Why It Matters

The result matters most for what it says about the Chargers. An 0-8 start is the worst in franchise history, and it has come with the quarterback taking punishment at a rate few teams could survive. If the finger injury keeps Herbert out, or even limits him, a bad season could get considerably worse, and the search for a first win would get harder still.

It also matters for Houston. Stroud’s five touchdowns and Dell’s return give the Texans a platform to build on, and a 44-22 road win changes how a team is judged. The Texans can score in bunches and rush the passer in waves; the Chargers, on the same afternoon, showed how far they have to go just to win a game.

What Happens Next

Monday brings the first update, when Herbert is tested on his injured left middle finger. The Chargers will confirm the diagnosis before deciding on his availability, and they must also find a way to protect him: 31 sacks in eight games is not sustainable, and the next opponent will have watched Sunday’s tape closely. Houston will look to carry the momentum of a 44-point afternoon into the rest of the season. For more on the Chargers’ season, read our report on the Rams’ 24-9 comeback win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, and for the latest from Week 9, see the Rams’ 20-13 win over the Commanders and the Jaguars’ 33-10 rout of the Ravens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between the Texans and the Chargers?
The Houston Texans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in NFL Week 9.

How many touchdowns did C.J. Stroud throw?
Stroud threw five touchdown passes for 384 yards on 21-of-35 passing, with one interception. Two of his scoring throws covered 63 yards each, to Tank Dell and Kayshon Boutte.

What happened to Justin Herbert’s finger?
Herbert injured the middle finger of his left, non-throwing hand on a fourth-quarter sack by Logan Hall. Coach Jim Harbaugh said, “It could be a fracture,” and Herbert will be tested on Monday. Herbert said he does not expect it to be an issue.

How many times was Justin Herbert sacked?
Herbert was sacked a career-high eight times; Will Anderson, Sheldon Rankins and Jadeveon Clowney had two each. He has been sacked 31 times this season, the second-most in the league.

What is the Chargers’ record now?
The Chargers fell to 0-8, their worst start in franchise history. They ended a 37-drive touchdown drought, the second-longest in NFL history, on Herbert’s 58-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.