In the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, the Houston Texans fell to the New England Patriots, 28-16, after a very sloppy offensive performance.
Many of the Texans’ struggles stemmed from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw 4 interceptions. Toward the end of the game, ESPN commentator Troy Aikman gave his honest thoughts on the young quarterback.
Troy Aikman Expresses Concern for Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud
With around one minute left in the game, Aikman began discussing Stroud, not just his performance against the Patriots but also his career since his rookie season in 2023. Aikman had the following to say:
“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 it has to be addressed.”
Troy Aikman: “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 it has to be addressed.” 🏈🎙️ #NFL #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nmAgXfxItQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 18, 2026
There is truth to Aikman’s statement. Stroud has shown little development, and if anything, he has regressed.
In his rookie season, Stroud completed 63.9% of his passes for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing only 5 interceptions. In addition to his passing numbers, he rushed for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns. 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-. He also won AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named a Pro Bowler.
In his second season, he took a step back, but it was not cause for immediate concern, as it could have been attributed to a “sophomore slump.” In 2024, he completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns, while his interceptions rose to 12. As a runner, he totaled 233 yards and no touchdowns, and he was sacked an astounding 52 times. In PFSN’s QBi, he finished the season ranked 33rd with an impact score of 68.8 and a letter grade of D+.
In 2025, Stroud completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns, while lowering his interception total to 8. He rushed for 209 yards and a touchdown and was sacked just 23 times, a career low. In PFSN’s QBi, he ranked 19th with an impact score of 76.2 and a letter grade of C.
The Texans’ defense is lockdown and was not the reason the team lost; the blame falls on Stroud and the offense. If Stroud can take a step forward in his development, there is no reason the Texans cannot be a serious contender.
