They did it.

Coordinator John Pagano high-fived his defenders as they trotted off the field. He walked 8 yards to coach Mike McCoy and did the same. Both turned to the team and rejoiced some more, Pagano’s words perhaps something along the lines of “Hallelujah!” because he then raised his arms into the air and stared at the retractable-roof heavens of NRG Stadium, holding the pose for seconds.

The Chargers celebrated Sunday how they began the second half.

Later, they celebrated how they ended it.


San Diego’s defense largely stymied the Texans from start to finish, the performance capped with safety Dexter McCoil’s end-zone interception of a Hail Mary pass as time expired. That turnover was the Chargers’ fourth forced in a 21-13 win, which kept their season alive for at least another week.

The team, it knows, must complete the season with six straight wins to have any discernible playoff shot. It also will need help from other teams. For now, it cannot worry about the latter.

One down.

Five to go.


“What a great team win,” said McCoy, who assigned players six off-days during last week’s bye, two more than the minimum outlined in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. “I just mentioned to the team — the mindset, the attitude they came back with; there was a reason why we gave them the week off. We were in pads for the first time (in weeks) Wednesday. What a great practice that was.

“Going on the road against a team that was undefeated here (5-0 at home) — a very well-coached, very talented team — we knew it was going to be a major challenge for us. I couldn’t be happier with the way all three phases played in today’s game.”

The defense set the tone.

One aspect was how it started the third quarter, a sequence that sparked Pagano’s celebration.


The Chargers’ offense entered the day tied for the NFL’s second-most points scored on the opening possession of games at 41. So, upon winning the pre-game coin toss, they elected to receive and put said offense on the field. They also were embracing a scenario in which the defense would be provided the chance to start the third quarter.

This defensive situation was a point of emphasis all week.

Coaches harped on the need to improve how it opened second halves. It had allowed a touchdown in six of 10 games, including each of the past three, for a combined 36 points that ranked second-worst in the league behind Cleveland. When starting this second half, the Chargers ceded two catches to Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a combined 30 yards; however, they were otherwise stout, allowing 2 yards on the drive’s other five plays and forcing a punt.

The touchdown streak ended at three.


Hallelujah.

“During the bye, all the coaches put a big emphasis on it,” cornerback Casey Hayward said. “They went back and looked at all the plays and tried to correct them. They made some amazing calls, and we made some plays. That’s what it’s about. Whatever they call, you just want to make plays.”

All told, San Diego did what it knew it needed to against a run-heavy offense, tackling well and containing running back Lamar Miller to 57 yards on 19 carries. Safety Dwight Lowery looked more comfortable with safety Jahleel Addae back from a Week 2 clavicular fracture. Lowery forced a Miller fumble in the third quarter, and rookie cornerback Trevor Williams recovered.

The Chargers expected interception chances from quarterback Brock Osweiler.


One by one, they seized them, as Hayward and Lowery preceded McCoil with picks. Hayward leads the NFL with six interceptions. The Chargers (5-6) have 23 turnovers on the year, tied with the Chiefs for most in the NFL entering Kansas City’s matchup with Denver on “Sunday Night Football.”

McCoy considered it a complete win. It was.

The offense was efficient overall, quarterback Philip Rivers’ only three incompletions in the first half coming on a Hunter Henry drop and two throwaways. Remove those from the equation, and he began 15-for-15 with 162 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 22-of-30 for 242 yards, three scores and an interception while being sacked just once.

Texans kicker Nick Novak converted an onside kick late in the fourth quarter, setting up two Hail Mary attempts from Osweiler. That was part of a mixed special-teams day. Kicker Josh Lambo missed a 54-yard field goal but rookie Drew Kaser outperformedveteran Shane Lechler with three of six punts downed inside the 20 for a 40.8 net average.


It was not a perfect game against the Texans, who lead the AFC South at 6-5.

It was a start.

“We have a chance to get to 6-6,” Rivers said of this Sunday’s home game against the Buccaneers. “We wanted to be 5-5 after the Miami game, so we got a chance to go back to 6-6 and set the stage for what we want to do.”

Five to go.


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michael.gehlken@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutgehlken