The Los Angeles Chargers opened their 2026 preseason with a strong 27–7 road win over the Houston Texans on August 13. The game gave both teams a chance to evaluate young players and depth options before the regular season. Houston started quickly and took a 7–3 lead, but the Chargers responded with points in every remaining quarter. Los Angeles also finished with a major advantage in total offense, producing 379 yards compared with Houston’s 209.
The biggest individual story was Chargers running back Amar Johnson, who scored two rushing touchdowns and also produced a 55-yard reception. Quarterback Trey Lance led Los Angeles in passing with 164 yards, while DJ Uiagalelei added 120 yards and a touchdown. For Houston, Davis Mills completed 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown. The result gave the Chargers a positive start to preseason play while leaving the Texans with several areas to address.
Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Result
The Chargers won 27–7 after trailing 7–3 during the opening quarter. Houston’s offense produced the game’s first touchdown when Davis Mills connected with Jared Wayne for a five-yard score. Los Angeles answered with a 34-yard Cameron Dicker field goal before taking control in the second quarter. Amar Johnson’s seven-yard rushing touchdown put the Chargers ahead, and Dicker’s extra point made it 10–7 at halftime.
Los Angeles then controlled the second half. Dicker added a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter, extending the lead to 13–7. The Chargers scored twice in the fourth quarter, including Johnson’s second rushing touchdown and a three-yard touchdown pass from Uiagalelei to Devonte Ross. The Chargers finished with 14 fourth-quarter points and shut out Houston after the opening period.
| Quarter | Los Angeles Chargers | Houston Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | 7 |
| 2nd | 7 | 0 |
| 3rd | 3 | 0 |
| 4th | 14 | 0 |
| Final | 27 | 7 |
Match Details
The preseason contest was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, with the Chargers entering as the visiting team. The game was the first preseason matchup for both clubs in the 2026 campaign. The Chargers finished with 32:15 of possession, while Houston had the ball for 27:45. That advantage helped Los Angeles maintain offensive pressure throughout the contest.
Los Angeles also converted more third downs and avoided fourth-down attempts. The Chargers went 6-for-12 on third down, while Houston converted only 4 of 13 opportunities. The Texans also finished with more penalties, committing 10 for 71 yards compared with six penalties for 49 yards by Los Angeles. Those details contributed to the Chargers’ control after halftime.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | August 13, 2026 |
| Competition | NFL Preseason |
| Matchup | Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans |
| Venue | Reliant Stadium |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Final Score | Chargers 27, Texans 7 |
| Chargers Record | 1–0 preseason |
| Texans Record | 0–1 preseason |
Chargers Passing Performance
Trey Lance received the larger share of quarterback work for Los Angeles and completed 12 of 20 attempts for 164 yards. He averaged 8.2 yards per attempt and finished with one interception. Lance also added 27 rushing yards on three carries, showing the mobility that remains an important part of his game. His performance gave the Chargers useful production through the air during the opening preseason test.
DJ Uiagalelei provided an efficient second performance. He completed six of nine passes for 120 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception. His 13.3 yards per attempt stood out, and he eventually connected with Devonte Ross for a three-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Together, the two Chargers quarterbacks completed 18 of 29 passes for 275 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
| Chargers QB | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey Lance | 12/20 | 164 | 0 | 1 | 65.4 |
| DJ Uiagalelei | 6/9 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 146.8 |
| Team | 18/29 | 275 | 1 | 1 | 91.7 |
Texans Passing Performance
Davis Mills started the passing work for Houston and completed nine of 15 attempts for 82 yards. He averaged 5.5 yards per attempt and threw one touchdown without an interception. His touchdown pass came in the first quarter when he found Jared Wayne for five yards. Mills helped Houston establish an early lead, but the offense struggled to maintain that production later in the game.
Graham Mertz completed four of seven passes for 23 yards after Mills’ appearance. He did not throw a touchdown or interception. Houston finished with only 98 passing yards as a team, a significant difference from Los Angeles’ 275 passing yards. The Texans therefore found themselves playing from behind after the Chargers adjusted following the opening quarter.
| Texans QB | C/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Mills | 9/15 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 97.1 |
| Graham Mertz | 4/7 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 63.4 |
| Team | 13/22 | 98 | 1 | 0 | 86.4 |
Amar Johnson Leads Chargers Offense
Amar Johnson was one of the clearest standout performers for Los Angeles. He scored two rushing touchdowns and also made a 55-yard reception, finishing as the Chargers’ leading receiver with 68 yards on two catches. His combination of rushing production and big-play ability gave the Los Angeles offense a spark throughout the game. ESPN identified Johnson’s two touchdowns and 55-yard catch among the key performances from the matchup.
Johnson’s first touchdown came in the second quarter on a seven-yard run. His second arrived in the fourth quarter on a one-yard rushing play, after which Los Angeles successfully converted a two-point attempt with Johnson carrying the ball. His production was particularly important because the Chargers were evaluating players throughout the preseason rather than relying solely on established starters.
Houston’s Key Offensive Performers
Noah Whittington led Houston’s rushing attack with 13 carries for 40 yards. Joshua Pitsenberger added 33 yards on nine attempts, while Mertz contributed 15 rushing yards on three carries. Houston totaled 111 rushing yards across its backs and quarterbacks, but the team struggled to create consistent offensive drives after its first-quarter touchdown.
Through the air, Marlin Klein produced the longest reception for Houston with a 31-yard catch. Josh Kelly caught three passes for 28 yards, while Jared Wayne finished with three receptions for 17 yards and the Texans’ only touchdown. Houston’s passing attack ultimately lacked the volume needed to keep pace with the Chargers, particularly during the second half.
| Texans Player | Category | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Noah Whittington | Rushing | 13 carries, 40 yards |
| Joshua Pitsenberger | Rushing | 9 carries, 33 yards |
| Marlin Klein | Receiving | 1 reception, 31 yards |
| Josh Kelly | Receiving | 3 receptions, 28 yards |
| Jared Wayne | Receiving | 3 receptions, 17 yards, 1 TD |
Chargers Rushing and Receiving Stats
Los Angeles finished with 104 rushing yards and 275 passing yards, giving the team 379 total yards. Lance led the quarterbacks with 27 rushing yards, while Gregory Desrosiers Jr. carried the ball 10 times for 27 yards. Jaret Patterson added 25 yards on five carries. The Chargers’ ground game was not dominant statistically, but it provided enough balance to complement the passing attack.
Johnson led all Chargers receivers with his 68-yard performance on two catches. KeAndre Lambert-Smith added four receptions for 58 yards, while Johnny Pascuzzi caught three passes for 39 yards. The big 55-yard reception by Johnson helped explain why his average reached 34 yards per catch, giving Los Angeles an explosive element even with a relatively modest number of receptions.
| Chargers Player | Rushing | Receiving |
|---|---|---|
| Trey Lance | 3 carries, 27 yards | — |
| Gregory Desrosiers Jr. | 10 carries, 27 yards | — |
| Jaret Patterson | 5 carries, 25 yards | — |
| Amar Johnson | — | 2 receptions, 68 yards |
| KeAndre Lambert-Smith | — | 4 receptions, 58 yards |
| Johnny Pascuzzi | — | 3 receptions, 39 yards |
Team Statistics and Offensive Difference
The biggest difference in the game came from total offense. Los Angeles produced 379 yards on 60 plays, averaging 6.3 yards per play. Houston generated 209 yards on 52 plays, averaging only four yards per play. The Chargers also recorded 23 first downs compared with 10 for the Texans, showing how much more consistently Los Angeles moved the football.
Third-down efficiency also favored the Chargers. Los Angeles converted six of 12 third downs, while Houston managed four conversions on 13 attempts. The Chargers went 3-for-4 in the red zone, whereas Houston finished 1-for-2. Although Los Angeles committed two turnovers compared with one by Houston, its yardage and possession advantages were large enough to overcome that difference.
| Team Statistic | Chargers | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 379 | 209 |
| Plays | 60 | 52 |
| Yards per Play | 6.3 | 4.0 |
| First Downs | 23 | 10 |
| 3rd Down | 6/12 | 4/13 |
| 4th Down | 0/0 | 0/2 |
| Red Zone | 3/4 | 1/2 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties | 6–49 | 10–71 |
| Possession | 32:15 | 27:45 |
Important Scoring Moments
Houston appeared to have early control after Davis Mills connected with Jared Wayne for a five-yard touchdown with 3:56 remaining in the first quarter. That score followed Cameron Dicker’s opening 34-yard field goal for Los Angeles. The Chargers then changed the direction of the contest in the second quarter when Johnson rushed for seven yards and gave Los Angeles a 10–7 lead.
Dicker extended the advantage with a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter. Los Angeles then pulled away in the fourth, with Johnson scoring from one yard before adding the successful two-point conversion. Uiagalelei later found Ross for a three-yard touchdown, putting the final margin at 27–7. Houston failed to score after its first-quarter touchdown, allowing the Chargers to finish the game strongly.
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Turning Point of the Game
The turning point came after Houston’s early touchdown. The Texans had opened with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, but the Chargers responded by controlling the rest of the first half and the entire second half. Johnson’s second-quarter touchdown shifted the lead to Los Angeles, and the Chargers continued to create longer and more productive drives after halftime.
Los Angeles’ ability to keep Houston off the scoreboard after the first quarter was especially important. The Chargers combined defensive stops with consistent offensive production, scoring in each remaining quarter. By the fourth quarter, the Texans were unable to produce enough offensive momentum to challenge the lead. The Chargers’ 14-point final quarter turned a competitive early game into a comfortable preseason victory.
Final Match Summary
The Los Angeles Chargers finished their August 13 preseason opener with a convincing 27–7 victory over the Houston Texans. Lance led the team with 164 passing yards, while Uiagalelei added 120 yards and a touchdown. Johnson was the offensive standout, scoring twice on the ground and producing 68 receiving yards. Los Angeles also controlled total yardage, first downs, third-down efficiency and possession, giving the coaching staff plenty of positive film from the opening preseason test.
Houston showed promise during its opening scoring drive but could not sustain that production. Mills threw for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Whittington led the rushing attack with 40 yards. The Texans finished with 209 total yards and were held scoreless across the final three quarters. For Los Angeles, the 27–7 result provided a strong start to preseason and highlighted several young players competing for larger roles.
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