C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans suffered a disappointing 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans this week. The Texans quarterback has not played well this year and continued to struggle in the divisional matchup against the Titans.
Stroud threw two interceptions but still had a chance to lead a game-winning drive. Unfortunately, with just over a minute left on the clock, he stepped out of the back of the end zone, which resulted in a safety and two points for the Titans.
The Ohio State product’s poor form has raised many eyebrows in the NFL world, as many thought he would be an MVP contender this year.
Shannon Sharpe Raises Questions About C.J. Stroud
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has found it difficult to comprehend how Stroud has played this year. “What’s happened 2 CJ Stroud?” asked Sharpe, “He looks and plays like a totally different player. Is it me, or is he different?”
The Texans have lost three of their last four games and are now 7-5 on the season. They are still expected to win the AFC South, but Stroud’s performances are a big cause of concern.
Poor offensive line play and losing Stefon Diggs for the rest of the season haven’t helped Stroud. But quarterbacks deal with and overcome these types of things to become the best in the business. The 23-year-old quarterback will undoubtedly find a way to get out of this slump, but whether that will happen this year or next remains to be seen.
SAFETY AND THE TITANS WILL WIN IT pic.twitter.com/0iGlaN2Np8
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) November 24, 2024
The Texans have now lost to both the New York Jets and Titans, teams they should have comfortably dealt with. They are lucky that the other three teams in their division are also struggling, or else Houston could have suffered the same fate as the Jacksonville Jaguars from last year.
Stroud’s team entered this season as a Super Bowl contender, but based on their performance so far, it will be hard to overcome the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
Comparing Stroud’s 2024 Stats With His Rookie Season
Stroud has been a completely different quarterback this season compared to his first year in the league. Last year, it seemed like he would find a way to win games for his team, and this time around, the story is completely opposite.
The Texans quarterback has thrown five interceptions in his last three games, which is equal to the same amount he threw in the entirety of his rookie season. Here are his stats for the ongoing NFL season compared to his rookie season’s stats:
| Category | Rookie Season | 2024 NFL Season |
| Completion % | 63.9 | 63.1 |
| Passer Rating | 100.8 | 87.3 |
| Interception/Game | 0.33 | 0.75 |
| Pass TDs Per Game | 1.53 | 1.16 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.2 | 7.3 |
| Yards Per Game | 273.9 | 239.6 |
| Sacks Per Game | 2.53 | 3.25 |
The Texans’ offense was expected to be explosive this year, but with Diggs out injured and Nico Collins and Joe Mixon missing time, they have failed to be consistent. The positive thing is Stroud is still in his second year in the league and will continue to get better. He will learn from this experience, and it will likely mold him into a much better player than he was in his rookie season.
Houston will travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars next week. Since the Jaguars are allowing a league-worst 413.3 yards per game, it will be a good opportunity for the Texans’ offense to get their groove back.