The Houston Texans took on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs and were dominated 28-16.
The game was a rough outing for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who turned the ball over four times. One NFL legend attributed Stroud’s poor play to the weather.
NFL Legend Attributes C.J. Stroud’s Poor Play to the Weather
As of the end of the third quarter, Stroud has been intercepted four times by the Patriots’ defense. NFL legend Asante Samuel shared his thoughts on Stroud, saying:
“Man… it’s too cold for CJ Stroud.”
Man… it’s too cold for CJ Stroud
— Asante Samuel (@pick_six22) January 18, 2026
The high temperature in Foxborough today is 34 degrees Fahrenheit, with a low of 28 degrees. Additionally, there is a mix of snow and freezing rain. Stroud completed 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards, with 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions against the Patriots.
Whether the weather is actually affecting Stroud’s poor play is unclear, but the timing has raised questions. In addition to his struggles today, Stroud also had a difficult Wild Card game last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that contest, he threw one interception and fumbled five times, recovering three of them.
Regardless, it is undeniable that Stroud has regressed from his rookie season. In 2023, he completed 63.9% of his passes for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Stroud was named to the Pro Bowl and earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In PFSN’s NFL Quarterback Impact Metric (QBi), Stroud ranked fifth in the league with an impact score of 81.9 and a letter grade of B-.
This season, Stroud has completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. He has also rushed for 209 yards and one touchdown, ranking 19th with an impact score of 76.2 and a letter grade of C in PFSN’s QBi.
The Texans’ identity is built more on defense than offense. Nicknamed “The Swarm,” Houston’s defense ranks second in PFSN’s NFL Defensive Impact Metric with an impact score of 89.4 and a letter grade of B+. Offensively, the Texans rank 23rd in PFSN’s NFL Offensive Impact Metric with an impact score of 70.9 and a letter grade of C-.
While the cold weather may be contributing to Stroud’s struggles, his season-long statistical trends suggest the issues extend beyond this game. Whether the Texans’ offense can rebound remains uncertain, but their defense has done its best to keep them competitive.
