INDIANAPOLIS — After wrapping up his postgame interviews, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud hugged his family to celebrate Saturday night’s 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
It was a moment that capped Stroud’s promise in July when he declared at a local Houston camp that the Texans would “shock the world.” Stroud capitalized on that statement as the Texans clinched a playoff berth, something many didn’t expect when the season began.
Stroud said it was “tremendously special” to keep his promise.
“The time we spent together to see the fruits of that labor is a blessing,” Stroud said. “Man, I’m lucky to be a part of this.”
In the Texans’ first game in primetime this season, Stroud went 20 of 26 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 138. Saturday night capped a stellar rookie season in which he finished with 4,108 yards. aerials and 23 touchdowns. , five interceptions and a passer rating of 100.8. Stroud became the fifth rookie in NFL history to reach the 4,000-yard passing milestone while leading the Texans to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 in coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season.
“CJ doesn’t surprise me,” Ryans said. “We talked about it earlier in the week with CJ being special in these big moments when you need him most, to step up and make plays. He’s done it time and time again all year. It’s not surprising. That’s what that he “is one of the best passers in this league. And he shows it consistently, game after game.”
Against the Colts, the connection of Stroud and receiver Nico Collins boosted the Texans’ offense, which was without its leading Nos. 2-4 receivers in Tank Dell, Noah Brown and Robert Woods.
Collins finished with a touchdown and 195 of the Texans’ 306 total yards. Ryans said the Stroud-Collins duo “stole the show” and were “the reason we won this game.”
The duo connected early on the Texans’ first offensive play for a 75-yard touchdown and connected late when Collins went 37 yards on the winning drive. Stroud engineered a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, going 7-of-7 for 82 yards before running back Devin Singletary scored the go-ahead touchdown with 6:23 left.
Moments after the game, the smell of cigarette smoke filled the locker room as the Texans celebrated. Tight end Brevin Jordan put down his cigarette and highly praised Stroud for leading the team to the postseason.
“He’s everything,” Jordan told ESPN. “When you have a guy under center who takes charge of the entire team, he has an aura that is special. There is a reason we are going to the playoffs, and a big part of it is because [Stroud]”.
Texans defensive end Will Anderson echoed a similar sentiment to Jordan.
“Without [Stroud]We don’t accomplish half the things we have,” Anderson told ESPN. “Man, [No.] 7 has been phenomenal for us. Everyone in this building appreciates having you and is a blessing to have you here. We just have to give all the credit to 7. His personality affects everyone in this locker room. His attitude and energy exude throughout the locker room. “It makes everyone want to take a step forward and continue playing better.”
As much as Stroud earned recognition from his teammates and coaches, he praised Ryans for the job he did in his first season in taking over a franchise that went 11-38-1 from 2020 to 2022 when three coaches were fired. followed: Bill O’Brien, David Culley and Lovie Smith.
“DeMeco is the perfect guy for the job. He brings something out of his players and it’s indescribable,” Stroud said. “Just like the tension and the mental stability and the toughness that he talks about. I can’t do anything but be grateful for where I was chosen to be in this situation right now. It’s just been a blessing.”
The Texans’ opponent in the wild card round has yet to be determined. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs on the road if the Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans.
If the Bills win, along with a Jaguars victory, the Texans will travel to Buffalo to face the Bills. If the Jaguars lose to the Titans, the Texans will win the AFC South division and host the Cleveland Browns.
