C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud completed 19-of-28 passes for 245 scoreless yards in the Texans’ 23-14, Divisional Round loss to the Chiefs, adding six carries for 42 yards.

As was the case for most of the stretch run, Stroud was besieged and confused behind the Texans’ battered line, taking a ridiculous eight sacks for a ruinous 58 yards. The reigning offensive rookie of the year, Stroud started slow this season and never really heated up. After posting a 7:3 TD:INT total across his first five starts, that ratio fell to 13:9 over his final 12 appearances. He never reached 300 yards after October 6, watching his rookie touchdown rate fall as his interception and sack percentages climbed. Shaky under pressure after handling the blitz well as a rookie, Stroud also struggled to hit big plays. Injuries to Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs played a part, but Stroud collapsed down field. After challenging for the league lead with 66 20-plus yard completions in 2023, Stroud saw that number fall to 42 in 2024. That was despite making two more starts. As was the case his rookie year, Stroud often felt held back by OC Bobby Slowik’s play-calling, but it’s difficult for an outsider to know just how much of that was a coordinator protecting his quarterback. All of this, of course, buries the lede that this is still a young QB who has now piloted at least one playoff victory each of his first two seasons. Stroud did not collapse as a sophomore. He just needs to rediscover his momentum heading into 2025.