Amar Johnson scores twice as Chargers open preseason with 27-7 win over Texans

The Los Angeles Chargers kicked off their preseason slate in the most straightforward way possible, defeating the Houston Texans 27-7 on Thursday night. The most eye-catching offensive moment came from Amar Johnson, who scored two touchdowns as the Chargers established a lead and prevented Houston from turning early possessions into points.

Preseason games are rarely judged by stylistic purity, but by how well teams execute under partial-game conditions: shortened drives, rotating personnel, and looks designed to test specific matchups. In that environment, the Chargers’ ability to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, and then protect the game once ahead, was the separation on a night where both teams were working through evaluations.

Johnson’s two-score performance gave Los Angeles a decisive scoring advantage during a contest where momentum can swing quickly as second- and third-string units take the field. His touchdowns accounted for a major share of the Chargers’ scoring output, and they also provided a tangible benchmark for the team’s offensive packages as new and returning players all attempt to make their case for regular-season roles.

Houston, meanwhile, managed to put points on the board in the same preseason flow that every team faces, where drives can stall and then get extended again when different personnel groups enter. Still, the Texans were not able to consistently narrow the gap once Los Angeles built separation. The final margin, 27-7, reflected a game in which Houston’s scoring opportunities were either limited or came too late to erase the Chargers’ early control.

For Los Angeles, a preseason opener win matters less for the standings and more for the process. When a player finds the end zone multiple times in the first game of the evaluation period, it can help clarify how coaches prioritize personnel and play-calling in later outings. For the Texans, the defeat is a reminder that preseason success is not just about what a team can produce in isolated moments, but about sustaining drives while playing complementary football against rotating defenses.

As both teams move deeper into exhibition play, the story to watch will shift from the opening scoring recap to what each coaching staff takes from it. How quickly the Chargers’ offense adapts when starting units are scaled back, and how the Texans respond by tightening execution and finishing drives when opportunities appear, will shape their next week of preseason decisions.

With the opener complete, the Chargers will aim to build on the game’s positive indicators while continuing to sort out depth and roles. The Texans, after conceding 27 points, will likely focus on the defensive and situational adjustments that can swing the next exhibition from a learning experience into a more competitive outcome.