Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud came into the 2024 campaign riding high, and he has good reason to. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had found a home in Houston and seemingly became an overnight sensation. This came at a perfect time, helping wash the bad taste out of the fans’ mouths that was left behind by former passer DeShaun Watson. Things went just as planned for Stroud and the team. They took a big step forward, making the playoffs. The stars were aligned for the Texans to possibly make a Super Bowl run, but injuries and inconsistent play have plagued them all season. The player that has been affected the most is their franchise player.
Will Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud Rise to the Occasion in the Playoffs?
Interception Woes
There’s been cause for concern, as both the Houston Texans and their offensive leader struggled a bit down the stretch. They clinched the division in Week 17, so Stroud played sparingly, throwing a touchdown pass on his only drive of the game. Backup Davis Mills would take over there, fueling Houston’s 23-14 victory.
But the focus will certainly be on Stroud, and it’s because his stats have fallen off considerably in year two. During his rookie campaign, the former Ohio State Buckeye threw for 4108 yards, with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He posted an outstanding 100.8 quarterback rating.
Flash forward to this season, and his yards (3727), TDs (20), and QBR (87.0) are down considerably. On the flip side, he’s thrown 12 interceptions – more than double his total from 2023. He cannot play at that level if Houston wants to make a serious playoff push.
In Good Hands
To be fair, the Texans’ offense has been decimated by injuries – particularly late in the season. And that included some of Stroud’s favorite weapons. Starting receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs were lost for the season due to injury. That leaves the sensational Nico Collins and the newly acquired Diontae Johnson to handle the big play duties. Tight end Dalton Schultz will act as Stroud’s ‘safety valve’ in red zone and short-yardage situations.
Stroud will also have running back Joe Mixon to help carry the load. But in the end? The man who plays the most important position on the field has to step up his game in the powerful AFC bracket. As he goes… so go the Texans.
Houston (10-7, 1st in the AFC South) will welcome the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) to NRG Stadium on Saturday. Texans fans will have the chance to see if Stroud is going to be the QB of old… or the somewhat mediocre version we’ve seen in 2024.
Main Photo: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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