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Texans QB C.J. Stroud makes NFL history in Wild Card victory over Chargers

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C.J. Stroud made history last postseason with his three-touchdown outing against the Cleveland Browns.

Something about wild-card weekend brings out the best in the Houston Texans’ passer.

Stroud, who guided the Texans to a 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at NRG Stadium, became the sixth quarterback in league history to win playoff starts in each of his first two NFL seasons.

He joins Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (2004-05), Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco (2008-09), New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez (2009-10), Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (2012-13) and San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy (2022-23) as other gunslingers to accomplish the feat.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be able to be in these shoes. I don’t take it for granted,” Stroud said following their double-digit win since Week 11. “I’m so grateful and amazed how the Lord has uplifted this team. It hasn’t always been easy this year, but this is just another thing that we can use to motivate us even more to get to the divisional round, whoever we play and play well there. Amazing though. I’m so happy and so blessed.”

Stroud started slow. The Texans fumbled on the first play of their opening drive after John Metchie III was stripped-sacked by Alohi Gilman. Two drives later, he threw an interception right in front of head coach DeMeco Ryans.

But it’s about how you finish rather than start. Stroud regained himself and stepped up after muffing a snap to connect with Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard gain.

After that, everyone was bought in and ready to go to work.

“That’s the play that sparked our entire team,” Ryans said.

Stroud went on to help Houston take the lead, finding Nico Collins for the game’s first touchdown. He later led three more scoring drives, including one before halftime thanks to a 27-yard scramble.

Looking back, Stroud remembered the energy turning its direction until the end of the right.

“After we made the completion, I looked to the sidelines and everybody was turnt up, so that turnt me up,” Stroud said.

Stroud finished 22-of-33 passing for 282 yards with one TD and one interception. Running back Joe Mixon extended Houston’s with a 17-yard touchdown to give Houston a 32-12 advantage with about four minutes to go.

“That’s the complementary football that we been looking for and we been needing as a team,” Ryans said.  “Just outstanding performance on all three phases. Really proud of all our guys.” 
Houston hits the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round next week.