C.J. Stroud has currently made Texans a playoff group — and a possibly difficult out

C.J. Stroud has frequently stated that he’s developed for pressure. 

It’s a self-confidence born from the hardship he overcame in his youth. From the expectations thrust on him as the beginning quarterback at college football powerhouse Ohio State.

“You’re best under LeBron [James],” Stroud joked about his obligations as the Buckeyes’ beginning quarterback at his initial press conference. “You’re the leader of the entire state.” 

And in his veryfirst NFL prime-time videogame, a de facto playoff videogame for the Texans versus the department competitor Colts, he showed it. Stroud increased to the celebration — as he’s done anumberof times in his great novice season. 

The No. 2 general choice charmed in the Texans’ 23-19 success that came down to the wire Saturday, and sentout Houston to the playoffs for the veryfirst time giventhat2019 Stroud signedup a 76.9% conclusion rate (20-of-26) for 264 backyards and 2 goals, a efficiency which mostlikely guaranteed his hold on AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He’s what makes the Texans so interesting and harmful in the postseason. 

Whomever Houston satisfies on Super Wild Card Weekend — which won’t be understood upuntil after Sunday’s videogames — will have to reckon with a quarterback who’s currently one of the NFL’s finest. Such gamers provide their groups a possibility to win any videogame. Stroud has won 9 of his veryfirst 15 begins, and an AFC South crown if the Jaguars tie or lose to the Titans, for a franchise that went 11-38-1 over the previous 3 seasons.

On Saturday, he endedupbeing the 5th novice quarterback in NFL history to reach 4,000 passing backyards, signingupwith Andrew Luck, Justin Herbert, Cam Newton and Jameis Winston. 

“C.J. simply being unique in these big-time minutes,” coach DeMeco Ryans stated later. “When we requirement him most to action up and make plays, he’s done it time after time throughout the whole year. 

“It’s not unexpected anybody. That is who he is. He’s one of the finest passers in this league and he reveals it regularly, videogame in and videogame out.” 

Stroud set the tone instantly versus the Colts. 

On the Texans’ veryfirst play from skirmish, he silenced the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium, finishing a 75-yard bomb to Nico Collins for a goal. On Houston’s consent drive in the 4th quarter, Stroud twotimes bailed the Texans out of a pickle. First, he hit tight end Dalton Schultz for a 17-yard conclusion on 2nd-and-20. Later, he linked with Collins for a 14-yard diving catch on 2nd-and-14. On the latter play, Stroud spun away from the pressure, backpedaled and fired a toss off his back foot to discover Collins for the conversion. 

The 22-year-old QB completed 7-for-7 for 82 backyards on the game-winning drive, which was topped by a Devin Singletary goal run following a 23-yard strike to Collins. 

Stroud and Collins had a unique connection all night. The Texans’ leading receiver captured all 9 of his targets for a career-high 195 backyards and a goal. He had 129 getting backyards (and the rating) by halftime. 

“C.J. and Nico, they took the reveal,” Ryans stated. 

What made Stroud’s efficiency all the more excellent is that he did this in spite of his supporting cast. 

Houston played without 3 of its leading 5 receivers — standout novice Tank Dell (out for the season with a broken leg), and veterans Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip). Singletary was ineffective (63 hurrying lawns on 2.6 backyards per bring, consistingof a long of simply 7 backyards). The offensive line hasactually been shorthanded for most of the year. The defense was harming Saturday, too, as sack leader Jonathan Greenard missedouton his 2nd straight videogame with an ankle injury. Star novice edge rush Will Anderson Jr. was likewise restricted by an ankle injury. The vulnerability of the Texans’ protective front, which gotin the videogame with the league’s No. 3 run defense, manifested in the Colts hurrying for 227 lawns, consistingof 188 from previous All-Pro Jonathan Taylor. 

But Houston’s workers concerns didn’t faze Stroud. They neverever have, inspiteof his youth and lackofexperience. 

In a Week 8 triumph over the Buccaneers, he tossed for 470 backyards (an NFL single-game novice record) and 5 goals, engineering the game-winning drive in 40 seconds to gottenridof a leaking defense and a non-existent run videogame. In a Week 3 triumph at Jacksonville, he directed the group to a 20-point success inspiteof missingouton 4 beginners on the offensive line and a havingahardtime run videogame.

This is what Stroud does. It’s why he’s constructed for the pressure of the playoffs. 

Whoever comes in the Texans’ method needto be careful. 

Ben Arthur is the AFC South pressreporter for FOX Sports. He formerly worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat author for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.