Texans' playoff loss highlights C.J. Stroud's postseason struggles and looming extension

Cbssports reports the Houston Texans were eliminated 28-16 by the New England Patriots on Sunday in the divisional round, a defeat that featured C.J. Stroud throwing four interceptions in the first half and capped a postseason the outlet says he "may have had the worst playoff run of any quarterback in NFL history." Stroud completed 10 of 26 passes for 124 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions in that first half.

Accounting for his five fumbles (two lost) and an interception against Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round, he became the first player in NFL playoff history with at least five interceptions and five fumbles in a single postseason. The outlet also noted historical marks: the only quarterback in the past 35 postseasons with a sub-40% completion rate and four interceptions in a half, and the only QB in the past 35 seasons with 15-plus incompletions and at least four interceptions in a first half.

The piece outlines a broader regression since Stroud's 2023 rookie season, when he threw for 4,018 yards and won Offensive Rookie of the Year; his passing yards per game fell from 273.9 in 2023 to 219.2 in 2024 and 217.2 in 2025, with TD-INT totals also down. Stroud is now extension-eligible and the expectation is a deal in the $55 million to $60 million-per-year range, the outlet says.

Key Topics

Sports, C.j. Stroud, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Nfl Playoffs, Divisional Round