C.J. Stroud is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The former Ohio State quarterback receives the honor after he completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans' 23-19 win over the Colts. With a 10-7 record, Houston clinched a playoff spot with the victory. The Titans' 28-20 win over the Jaguars on Sunday also resulted in an AFC South title for the franchise.
AFC Players of the Week! (Week 18) (by @FastTwitchDrink)@CJ7STROUD | @_TJWatt | @tayynation1 pic.twitter.com/Ic3djTr4q4
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2024
Stroud's performance at Lucas Oil Stadium was clinical from start to finish. On his first pass attempt of the game, Stroud tossed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins. The pass traveled over 60 yards in the air before Collins secured it and ran into the end zone.
C.J. Strouds first throw in his first NFL primetime game is a 75-yard touchdown. pic.twitter.com/zA0rsBYPIz
Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 7, 2024
Before halftime, Stroud put Houston up 14-3 with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Beck with 1:57 left in the second quarter.
CJ Stroud to a wide open Andrew Beck! @HoustonTexans up 14-3.
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
: #HOUvsIND on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/C88VYpgzkh pic.twitter.com/bm11DTTzpG
The Texans' offense started slow in the second half, which allowed the Colts to tie the game twice. Stroud then led a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive in which he completed seven consecutive passes to put Houston in front, 23-17, with 6:20 remaining.
CJ STROUD ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
: #HOUvsIND on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/C88VYpgzkh pic.twitter.com/ntoU1pFO61
That drive would prove to be the game-winner for the Texans as the Colts turned the ball over on downs on their next possession. Houston ran out the clock to close out the contest and punch its ticket to the postseason.
By leading the Texans to a playoff berth and earning his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week award of the season, Stroud continued to make a strong case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Stroud becomes just the second former Ohio State quarterback to win an NFL Offensive Player of the Week award multiple times, joining Kent Graham.
AFC & NFC Players of the Week - Week 18 pic.twitter.com/x3YSTAztMd
— NFL345 (@NFL345) January 10, 2024
Stroud finished his first regular season with the third-most passing yards ever for an NFL rookie quarterback, completing 319 of 499 attempts for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Only Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336) threw for more yards in their rookie seasons.
The Texans will host the Cleveland Browns at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in the NFL Wild Card Round. The game will be televised on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
