The Houston Texans had virtually no expectations at this time last year. They were coming off a miserable season in which they had finished 3-13-1, and it looked like a lock that they would miss the playoffs again.
But led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they became one of the league’s biggest stories last season. The Texans finished with a 10-7 record, giving them first place in the AFC South, and they trounced the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
A big reason for their success was Stroud’s production under pressure in crunch time. It led CBS Sports to rank him second on its list of the NFL’s top 10 clutch quarterbacks.
“Nobody was better in the clutch than C.J. Stroud last year,” wrote Douglas Clawson. “The Texans converted on 6 of 8 game-tying or go-ahead drive chances late with Stroud under center. His numbers in those situations were phenomenal. 77% completion rate, 10.7 yards per attempt and a 139.5 passer rating.”
The road to C.J. Stroud becoming “Mr. Clutch”
Stroud’s fireworks started in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he led a game-winning drive with just 46 seconds left while down by four points and the ball positioned on Houston’s own 25-yard line. He quickly completed two passes to Dalton Schultz, then found wide receiver Noah Brown for a 14-yard reception that put the Texans in Buccaneers territory with 31 ticks left.
Just 21 seconds later, he found wideout Tank Dell in the endzone for the touchdown that resulted in a 39-37 victory.
The following week, Houston was tied with the Cincinnati Bengals at 27-all with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter, and while starting again on his team’s own 25-yard line, Stroud quickly led his men downfield, allowing Matt Ammendola to knock down the game-winning field goal.
On the season, Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions, and he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl while also winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
This coming season, he will have Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the five to 10 best wide receivers in the NFL on his side, as well as Danielle Hunter, a pass rusher who has also made the Pro Bowl four times. Running back Joe Mixon, a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 who has rushed for over 1,000 yards in four of his seven NFL seasons, is also now a member of the Texans.
Perhaps it’s a little too early to plan a world championship parade down the streets of Houston. But one should expect more clutch antics from C.J. Stroud this fall and winter as he continues to grow and mature into an irresistible force.
