Texans’ C.J. Stroud Catches Stray During AFCCG

Getty

C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans walks out of the tunnel before facing the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

The offseason came earlier than C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans hoped when they set out to begin the 2025 campaign. However, they remain a topic of discussion during the AFC Championship Game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots.

The Texans lost to both teams, falling to the Broncos in Week 9 during the regular season, and then getting eliminated from the playoffs by the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.

Still, just as it has been since the season ended, the story for the Texans is Stroud.

C.J. Stroud Takes Heat After Jarrett Stidham TD

GettyJarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Houston Texans.

Stroud and the Texans are out of the postseason. Still, as Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham led a second-quarter scoring drive during the AFCCG, finding Marvin Mims for a 52-yard gain, and then Courtland Sutton for the TD two plays later, Houston’s QB came under fire.

“Jarrett Stidham already better than CJ Stroud,” PrizePicks posted on X during the game.

Stidham started cold, going 0-for-3 against the Patriots, who harassed Stroud consistently during the Divisional Round.

The former Patriots fourth-round draft pick and Las Vegas Raiders QB then connected on seven of his next eight passes. However, the veteran also flirted with disaster several times in the pocket, one of which resulted in a fumble recovery for the Patriots and a comparison to Stroud.

The Broncos and Patriots entered halftime tied 7-all, following missed field goals on both sides.

For Stroud, it was just the latest turn in the perception around him following his historic rookie season.

The timing is unfortunate, too, with Stroud eligible for a contract extension this offseason. He has drawn polarizing opinions about what the Texans should do with their franchise QB and the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 draft.

C.J. Stroud Called Out Over Regression

GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans looks on after losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Stroud’s struggles in the postseason are well-documented, with the Texans’ QB throwing for 462 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions against the Patriots in the Divisional Round and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card.

Stroud also fumbled 4 times, twice losing possession for the Texans. He came under fire during the Texans’ loss to the Patriots from Fox Sports’ Troy Aikman.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio face “tough decisions.”

“C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years. He’s not been the same player. We’ve not seen the development from him. There’s a reason for that and has to be addressed,” Aikman told broadcast partner Joe Buck during the contest.

“7 turnovers in two playoff games. So, your most important games of the year. You can’t overcome that due to quarterback play.”

Aikman’s criticism was not unique.

“They’ve got a decision to make on C.J.’s fifth year upcoming, which, up until yesterday, was not a decision at all. But suddenly, guaranteeing this dude that money for that fifth year doesn’t seem like … as great an idea as it did a few weeks back. Much less, never mind, signing him to a long-term extension, which is going to cost way more money and be much longer a commitment,” Jim Rome said on “The Jim Rome Show” on January 19.

“The fact of the matter is, he’s not making progress. He’s actually regressing. It seems like every single week. Hell, it seems like he’s getting worse by the snap. Now, I’m not saying that you don’t bring him back next year. I’m not saying that. Although I admit I did keep waiting for DeMeco to bench him yesterday.”

Calls for the Texans to bench Stroud for Davis Mills, prevalent during the game, went unfulfilled.

C.J. Stroud’s Leadership Questioned

GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Rome said, “Of course,” Stroud returns to the Texans next season, but said, “He can’t come back like this.” Rome also questioned “what happened” to the QB “who set the world on fire as a rookie.” The pundit noted Stroud “has to make massive strides.”

“His second season was worse than his first. His third season was worse than his second, and there’s no way in hell they can afford his fourth to be worse than his third,” Rome said. “And this team shouldn’t have to wait around him. Because not only is his play and his development going in the wrong direction, so is his body language. So is his leadership. I know his coach took up for him. I know his teammates took up for him. But you can see it, right?”

Rome’s assertion flies in the face of the support he recognizes Stroud received from Caserio, Ryans, and his Texans teammates.

The only way Stroud will quiet the noise for himself and the Texans, though, is to right the ship.

Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter