As the Houston Texans headed into the locker room before halftime, a swarm of boos reverbed off the steel beams inside NRG Stadium.
That sound carried over as players left the field for the final time in the regular season as the Texans couldn’t muster up a sign of offense in a 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud understands the fan frustration, especially admitted his performance in Wednesday’s Christmas showdown was “probably one of my worst games” in his career.
“People are entitled to their opinions. They care about the game. Their emotions matter, so I understand,” Stroud said after failing to find the end zone. “This is not my first time and probably won’t be my last. It’s not something to internalize and point the finger at yourself but it is something that you can use to motivate you, to not want those moments anymore.
#Texans C.J. Stroud after the 31-2 loss to Ravens, “Probably one of my worst games of whole career, came out flat, didn’t have any energy, just didn’t lead the offense the way I should’ve. Always gotta look myself in the mirror & be honest w/ myself. Just not good enough today.” pic.twitter.com/BgWXeLEJQB
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) December 26, 2024
Last season, Stroud took the NFL by storm. Media pundits declared the 2023 No. 2 overall pick the league’s next “elite QB” after guiding Houston to its first 10-win season and a playoff berth in four years.
But with all the success came expanded expectations for an encore in Year 2. Fans believed after a bountiful offseason, plus a sure-fire quarterback,
Houston would be a force in the AFC next to Buffalo and Kansas City.
Instead, the Texans are trudging their way to an underwhelming division title while being booed off the field to make room for Beyoncé’s halftime show.
“What are you going to do? Cry and weep about it?,” Stroud said. “Of course, it’s not easy, but at the same time, it’s part of the game, sometimes you go out there and lay an egg. It’s not easy to sit out here and say that, but that’s what happened tonight.”
Stroud, who finished 17-of-31 passing for 185 yards and an interception, can’t take all the blame. He was sacked five times, including three times on third down to knock Houston out of range for a conversion.
C.J. Stroud’s splits this season are night and day when he’s throwing over the middle vs. outside the numbers 😬
Stroud on throws between…
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