C.J. Stroud Solidifies Rookie Season for the Ages to Send Texans to the Playoffs
C.J. Stroud was wrong when he said, “I’m a football player … not an S2 taker.”
Stroud is a special football player, one who could be an all-time great when it’s all said and done. And it’s not too soon to make that assessment because of what Stroud displayed throughout a dominant rookie season that will continue for at least another week after another remarkable performance Saturday night.
Stroud was again special during the 23–19 road victory against the Indianapolis Colts to clinch the Houston Texans’ first postseason appearance since 2019. The football world waited 18 weeks to see Stroud in a prime-time game, and now, because of his heroics in Indianapolis, we get to see the rookie sensation under the bright lights next week in a playoff game.
Stroud’s name can be mentioned among the best quarterbacks in the NFL because of what he did on a special (there’s that word again) fourth-quarter drive to give the Texans the go-ahead touchdown. Stroud made two big-time throws to Nico Collins, who was also special Saturday night, on the possession that had Houston in second-and-20 and a first-and-20 before Devin Singletary punched it in with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 23–17 with 6:20 left in regulation.
First, Stroud escaped pressure while running to his left before throwing a pass to the opposite side of the field to Collins for a first down on the second-and-14 play. Later on the drive, Stroud threw a 23-yard rocket to Collins to put the Texans in the red zone.
Those two plays alone should force the NFL to punt the S2 cognition test into oblivion next to SATs. And make many football teams regret no trading up to No. 1 to select Stroud—that’s if they had him ranked higher than Bryce Young.
Stroud flashed his vast skill set, one that was questioned in the months leading up to the draft, during a magical night in Indianapolis and throughout one of the best rookie seasons the NFL has ever witnessed. Stroud showed arm strength, extended plays, accuracy, poise, decisiveness and a ridiculously high football IQ.
Stroud threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns during the Texans' 23–19 win over the Colts.
Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports
The Texans (10–7) didn’t pass on Stroud, and now they can be a dangerous playoff team after a rough three-year stretch. Houston, however, did catch a break with Colts running back Tyler Goodson dropping a pass from Gardner Minshew to end Shane Steichen’s memorable first season in Indianapolis.
The dreadful seasons between 2020 and ’22 with four different coaches and 11 combined victories have been forgotten in Houston because of what DeMeco Ryans has accomplished during his first season. And, of course, because of Stroud’s arrival, the supposed bad test taker.
Stroud was determined to prove the critics wrong, which he did early in 2023, as the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year outdueled Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow in back-to-back weeks for two of the most exciting games of the regular season. I got a first-hand glimpse at that determination when I sat down with Stroud and Bryce Young at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere a week after the Carolina Panthers took Young with the first pick, followed by the Texans taking Stroud No. 2.
Stroud spoke with conviction, but in a calm demeanor, as if he was saying his critics were afterthoughts and his brilliance on the field would do the talking for him. This was an hour after Stroud met with Tom Brady to pick the brain of the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
The Texans can thank the Panthers for selecting Young, the pointless S2 cognition test and Lovie Smith (more on that in a bit) for why they landed Stroud at pick No. 2. Remember when rumors swirled about the Texans possibly passing on Stroud and opting for a defensive player, such as Will Anderson Jr.? The Texans ended up with both standout rookies because the organization finally got serious about winning and traded their 2024 first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals to select Anderson with at No. 3.
That win-now mentality might have started with Smith going for the game-winning two-point conversion in last year’s regular-season finale, which, ironically, took place in Indianapolis. The Chicago Bears ended up with the top pick due to Smith’s decision—and he was fired the following day. I wonder whether the Texans would have selected Young had they lost to the Colts in Week 18 last season, but they haven’t looked back since turning in the card with Stroud’s name.
It was fitting that the Texans opened with an aggressive downfield shot on the first play of the must-win matchup for various reasons, including Stroud quickly delivering an insane highlight for his first prime-time game. Stroud’s beautiful 75-yard touchdown connection with Collins not only surprised the Colts, but it silenced the narrative that the Texans’ offense lost its explosiveness after Tank Dell sustained a season-ending leg injury in Week 13.
Yes, the Texans’ offensive numbers dipped after Dell was lost—Houston fell to the New York Jets, 30–6, the following week. But Stroud and the offensive coaches didn’t get much time to adjust without Dell because Stroud missed two games due to a concussion.
Stroud had an efficient return performance in last week’s victory against the Tennessee Titans and fully adjusted in the elimination matchup vs. the Colts without Dell, Robert Woods or Noah Brown. That’s what makes Stroud special—and why the Panthers are kicking themselves—because he’s capable of making it work no matter the surrounding situations.
Stroud didn’t just lock in on Collins, who had nine catches for 195 yards and one touchdown. Stroud, who had 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, also got tight end Dalton Schultz and fullback Andrew Beck involved. Also, the Texans wouldn’t have won without Ryans’s defense stepping up for a few quarters before Stroud’s magic on the go-ahead touchdown drive.
A Jacksonville Jaguars loss to the Titans would give Houston the AFC South title. Otherwise, the Texans will be on the road next weekend and likely considered underdogs. No matter how it turns out, they’ll be dangerous because they have Stroud on the field and Ryans on the sideline—because Smith went for two last Week 18.
