INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud led the Texans to a 23-19 win over the Colts on Saturday night. It was a win that put Houston back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 season.
After the game, Stroud, who was 20 of 26 for 264 yards, and is by all accounts a lock for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, became emotional in a postgame interview with ESPN he did before leaving the Lucas Oil Stadium field.
In the interview, Stroud was asked how it feels to be in the playoffs and after he started to answer, he paused before continuing.
“I’m sorry,” he said after appearing to choke back tears. “I put a lot of work in. My team has. Everybody counted us out from the start, so it’s just special to see the city of Houston to be on the come up again. I’m just blessed enough to be the vessel that Christ picked to lead this great franchise, so I can do nothing but thank the Lord.”
He also explained what he had written on his wristbands for the game and what it meant.
Getting the Texans to the playoffs is just the latest accomplishment for the Texans’ star rookie and No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft. In his first NFL season, Stroud set the record for most passing yards in a game when he threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns against Tampa Bay. Before he set that record, he also had a record for the most passing attempts without an interception to start a career. Stroud’s first interception came after 192 pass attempts to start his first season.
And while he’s done a lot so far this season, the team isn’t done yet. Stroud and the Texans will find out their playoff opponent by the end of Sunday.
