For the second straight week, the Houston Texans needed a game-winning drive, and in as many weeks, the team was not hesitant to put the game in the hands of their rookie quarterback.
C.J. Stroud mounted a six-play, 55-yard drive to put kicker Matt Ammendola in position to kick the walk-off, 31-yard field goal. Houston dusted the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 and left Paycor Stadium with a 5-4 record, their first winning record nine games into a season since 2019.
Stroud revealed after the game what his teammates connoted on the sidelines ahead of the Texans’ final drive.
“They look me in the eye and they’re like, ‘We trust you with this moment,'” Stroud said. “And that means a lot to me from left to right. A lot of meaningful ball has been played on different teams and this team.”
The 2022 Texans were in eight games decided by one score or less — nine if fudging the definition to account for the Week 1 tie with the Indianapolis Colts. Houston posted a 3-5-1 record. With Stroud under center, the Texans are 3-2 in such games.
“I think they were saying last year there were eight or nine games that came down to the wire like that, so, the hope that we have in two-minute drill, that really goes to our coaching and our playmakers,” said Stroud. “We do two-minute drills every Wednesday and just trying to get that down, because a lot of these games are won in two-minute. My linemen, we don’t move at all like I told you last week because it’s a focus point of our team. My linemen had a great game.”
Stroud finished the game going 23-of-39 for 356 yards, a touchdown, and an interception along with an 8-yard rushing touchdown. The Texans take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11 at NRG Stadium.
