1. This ballgame had a real second game of the preseason feel to it. Some familiar faces, some players you’d never heard of, some of the best players inactive and a very blah atmosphere in the stadium. In fairness, the blah atmosphere at NRG has been a season-long thing.
2. Royce Freeman’s first quarter TD run didn’t count, but it was still a reminder that David Johnson just doesn’t need to play anymore.
3. I know there’s former Patriot apathy and he can be guilty by association to some, but it’s hard not to admire what Rex Burkhead has been able to do with what God gave him. He shouldn’t be the best back on an NFL roster, but that’s what he is here and the effort is always there.
4. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said he went on fourth down aggressively against Kansas City out of respect for their offense among other things. Los Angeles kicked two field goals in the first quarter against the Texans.
5. Getting to see kicker Dominik Eberle kick a 50+ yarder with ease was a good thing to see and an opportunity for the staff to evaluate him in a high-pressure in-game situation.
6. Jonathan Owens can’t even have his own moment for 10 seconds. About 9.9 seconds after his first career INT the CBS broadcast mentioned his girlfriend Simone Biles. I’m sure he doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight with the GOAT though.
7. You can’t throw a ball better than Davis Mills did on that TD to Chris Conley at the end of the second quarter.
8. The first half of this game was one of the best halves of ball this team has played this season. It’s up there with the first half to open the season against Jacksonville and the first half against New England. If not for an Andre Roberts muffed punt in Cleveland, that half would be in the conversation as well.
9. Eberle missed his second long FG attempt, but again, it’s good to evaluate these young players in high-pressure, in-game situations.
10. Brevin Jordan is going to be a major factor for this offense the next few seasons.
11. I started Rex Burkhead in fantasy football this week and my team name was Unprotected Rex.
True story.
12. What exactly was the emergency situation Chargers safety Derwin James was available for? What qualifies as an emergency for one of the most important players on the team in a game you have to win?
13. Nick Caserio is looking really good after his first, very limited, draft class. VERY early, but looking good.
14. Davis Mills competing with another veteran is the likely starting QB competition heading into 2022. The true evaluation of Mills begins next season, but you’ve got to like what you see.
15. The turning point of the game was the rarely called defensive holding that was called on a Chargers defensive lineman at the end of the first half when the Texans were inside their own five-yard-line and discombobulating after multiple penalties and a burned timeout. The Texans appeared to be content with punting to the Chargers trailing by two, but instead got a first down and ended the half with a five-point lead after a Mills TD pass to Conley.
16. The players in the Chargers uniform have changed, but their ability to wet the bed when you least expect them to and find ways to have their heartbroken lives on. They always seemed to be involved in the close heartbreakers during the Philip Rivers Era and just on the edge of the playoff picture.
17. The cost of the win will be a talking point in regard to draft position, but at this point with more equity coming in a Deshaun Watson trade and Caserio appearing to know what he’s doing, draft wise it’s not a bad situation.