Richard Sherman puts NFL on notice after Texans' C.J. Stroud thrills in win
Coming off a three-win season and inserting a first-year head coach at the helm, the Houston Texans were supposed to treat 2023 as a rebuilding year. The Texans clearly didn't get the message.
Led by rookie phenom quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans stunned the NFL world in Week 9 with a thrilling 39-37 come-from-behind win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stroud orchestrated a 75-yard winning drive in 40 seconds, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown strike to Tank Dell with six seconds remaining.
Houston's victory pushed its record to 4-4 and puts the Texans in the thick of the playoff race. Should the Texans punch a ticket to the postseason, retired five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman — now a TV analyst — believes they'll be "very dangerous."
Through eight games, Stroud has solidified himself as the top rookie passer and already a top-15 QB overall. His 470 yards passing against Tampa Bay set the NFL record for most passing yards by a first-year quarterback in a game. The Ohio State product ranks seventh in the NFL in passing yards (2,270) and is tied for seventh in TD passes (14).
Stroud's brilliance masked Houston's shortcomings Sunday, namely on the ground and defensively. With Dameon Pierce out of the lineup due to an ankle injury, Devin Singletary led the Texans with just 26 yards rushing. On defense, Houston surrendered 332 yards and has allowed the ninth-most passing yards passing per game (238).
Sitting in second in the AFC South, the Texans are on the bubble of the postseason, holding the 10th spot in the playoff picture. With four games remaining against division foes, including a Week 12 showdown against the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston has an opportunity to make up ground.
The Texans have not made the postseason since 2019. With DeMeco Ryans as head coach and Stroud solidifying himself as a franchise quarterback, that drought is bound to end sooner rather than later.
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