C.J. Stroud made it clear that even though the defense gave up 32 points to the Tennessee Titans, he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain.
It’s why the Houston Texans are sitting at 7-5 after a 32-27 loss at home.
Stroud, who threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, also tossed two interceptions. He completed just over 60% of his passes and tossed a pair of interceptions, including one to Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray on a scoring drive in the third quarter. He sacked for a safety with 1:17 remaining and nearly ran out of the back of the end zone.
Dan Orlovsky would have been proud. Texans fans are frustrated and Stroud can understand why.
“It’s no secret I haven’t been playing well for my standard,” Stroud said following a second consecutive home loss. “Everybody has to look in the mirror and try to get things fixed. So that’s gotta be the plan for this week. Practicing. Getting better. Personally, I got to get better. As a team, we have to get better.”
Asked C.J. Stroud what can be done to fix the little mistakes on offense.
“Gotta keep practicing, you gotta keep playing. I mean you tell me. I don’t know. That’s all I know how to do. Practice better. Play better. Meet better. Do everything better.”#HTownMade | @ESPN975 pic.twitter.com/CY7rlxSgsE
— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) November 24, 2024
Week 12 epitomized the Texans’ season up to this point as Houston enters its final game before the bye. An 80-yard kickoff return by Dameon Pierce set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to rookie tight end and former Ohio State teammate Cade Stover.
Down by 10, Houston responded with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, then a 56-yard gain to the Pro Bowl receiver to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal.
Then, much like the second half of the season, everything went wrong.
Stroud and John Metchie III weren’t on the same page with just over a minute remaining in the first half, leading to an interception and Nick Folk’s field goal. The offense never reached the end zone and settled for two more attempts for Fairbairn while trusting the defense to deliver.
But the final blow came on the Texans’ second-to-last drive. Stroud connected with Collins for a 33-yard touchdown that would have given them a four-point lead, but the play was nullified by an illegal motion penalty on Joe Mixon and Tank Dell.
CJ STROUD TOUCHDOWN PASS TO NICO COLLINS IS CALLED BACK BECAUSE OF AN ILLEGAL SHIFT pic.twitter.com/ML8pfHFTcl
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 24, 2024
Stroud said it was on him not having his teammates prepared for the snap.
“I got to give the play better and make sure guys are on the same page, and even when we break the huddle, still communicate a little bit and make sure everybody’s doing what they’re doing,” Stroud said. “But it was my fault.”
Stroud will take ownership of the offensive woes, but it’s not all on him.
Houston’s offensive line gave him a clean pocket in the first half and allowed four sacks in the second. That factored into a passing yards and completion percentage between the first and final 30 minutes.
C.J. Stroud just pulled a Dan Orlovskypic.twitter.com/sW8ocmIPKf https://t.co/2AFmBFPI2n
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 24, 2024
Houston also couldn’t run the football to save face. Mixon, fresh off a three-touchdown outing against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football,” averaged 1.6 yards per attempt on 14 carries.
“They’re a really good front. Really good front,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We knew that going into the game. But it doesn’t matter. Every front is good. You have to own the line of scrimmage.”
Houston has seven days to recoup before it travels to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. It can’t afford a loss, but it also can’t waste a strong defensive performance.
The Texans tied their franchise record for sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (15) in a game. Safety Jimmie Ward intercepted Titans second-year quarterback Will Levis and returned it for a 67-yard touchdown. Kris Boyd recovered a muffed punt to set up Houston inside Tennessee’s 40.
Outings like that won’t always be promised, so Stroud’s already getting prepped for film study on Monday and an aggressive week of practice.
“Everybody has to look at themselves in the mirror and try to get things fixed,” Stroud said. “That will be the plan this week. Practicing and getting better.”
