Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after the game against the New England Patriots in an AFC Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium. David Butler II-Imagn Images

Texans QB C.J. Stroud discusses awful performance in playoff loss to Patriots

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 18, 2026 8:52 PM ET

Houston Texans third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud isn't making any excuses for his rough outing against the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional round.

Stroud had one of his worst games of the season in New England on Sunday. The QB finished 20-of-47 passing for 212 yards, one touchdown pass and four interceptions. With the 28-16 loss, the Texans remain the only NFL franchise never to reach a conference championship game.

After the game, Stroud admitted his poor play was one of the main reasons the Texans lost.

C.J. Stroud discusses performance against Patriots

"I look back, and I just feel like I let people down, not happy with that," Stroud told the media. "You know, it hurts."

"I look back and I feel like I let people down. ... It hurts."

–C.J. Stroud after the loss to the Patriots pic.twitter.com/oUVVmnRhbV
— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2026

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, meanwhile, supported the 24-year-old QB. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV in Houston, the coach told him, "I love you," after the game.

Stroud certainly appreciates his HC's support but knows his play must improve next season to lead the team to a Super Bowl. In 14 regular-season games, he tossed a career-low 19 TD passes and averaged a career-worst 217.2 passing yards per game (3,041 yards). In the playoffs, the former Ohio State Buckeyes star threw two TD passes and five interceptions.

"You know, I didn't play my best this year," Stroud said. "But I'm gonna respond and keep my chest up, my chin up high. I'm just gonna keep battling forward."

After going 12-5 in 2025, the Texans may be on the verge of becoming one of the top clubs in the AFC. Houston's stingy defense — which features star third-year defensive end Will Anderson Jr. — is a Super Bowl-caliber unit. But now the offense must become one. To do that, Stroud must recapture the promise he showed during his rookie season when he won Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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