Texans clinch play-off spot and Ravens beat Packers

The Houston Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday to advance to the NFL Play-Offs for the third straight year.

The Texans won eight straight games after the Chargers responded with a late touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins and a 43-yard scoring pass to Jaylin Noel in the final six minutes.

The outcome removes division rival Indianapolis Colts, who had a season opener 7-1, from play-off contention, keeping the Texans’ hopes of winning the AFC South alive.

The Chargers, who were already in the play-offs, will win the AFC West title.

When Stroud connected with Higgins and Noel on each of their opening drives, the Texans took the lead in Los Angeles by 14-0.

Los Angeles went into the game with a field goal from Cameron Dicker, who missed from 32 yards, marking his first field goal of his career from within 40 yards.

After the break, the Chargers improved and eventually entered the endzone late in the third quarter with the help of Oronde Gadsden, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s two field goals put the Texans two goals clear.

Omarion Hampton, a rookie running back, scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter before Dicker’s uncharacteristic day was compounded by a missed extra point.

Henry’s touchdown run helped the Ravens defeat the Packers 41-24 at Lambeau Field in the late game, breaking an NFL record with his seventh 200-yard game of his career.

In Week 18, the Ravens (8-8) face the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) in a game that would result in an AFC North title loss.

Before the Packers responded with a 39-yard Malik Willis touchdown pass to Christian Watson, Henry set the tone for Baltimore’s opening drive by running in from three yards.

Before Tyler Loop’s field goals put the visitors in a strong position, the running back was in the endzone once more just before the halfway point.

Willis ran a 22-yard run to score for the Packers, but Henry added a hat-trick to give the Ravens a 27-14 lead at halftime.

After Willis’ second touchdown run of the day was followed by a Brandon McManus field goal, Green Bay responded after the break by coming within three.

However, the Ravens were able to escape detection in the fourth quarter when Henry added a 25-yard touchdown run for his fourth of the night after Tyler Huntley gave Zay Flowers a 10-yard touchdown pass.