C.J. Stroud is no stranger to bright lights.
But the lights he played under Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium were the brightest he has ever seen.
Sure Stroud has played in some big games before, such as multiple games against Michigan during his days at Ohio State, or in a College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia in the Peach Bowl. He has even performed under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium before, as he did during an impressive throwing session at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Yet Saturday night was different. The final regular season game of his rookie season in the NFL, with everything on the line for the Houston Texans. Win on the road against the Indianapolis Colts, and a playoff spot — and potentially a home one at that — is in the cards. Lose, and the offseason begins immediately.
Houston fans did not need to wait long for Stroud to make his first big play of the night.
After the Colts marched down the field on the game’s opening possession, before settling for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead, Stroud and the Texans offense took the field for their first possession of the night.
A few second later, and the Texans had a 7-3 lead:
The Texans got everything they could have wanted from this play, and more. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik uses personnel to his advantage on this play, as Houston lines up with 13 offensive personnel (three tight ends, one running back, and one wide receiver). In response, the Colts play heavy, with a 4-3 defensive front and four defensive backs in the game.
While the Colts might be anticipating the run, given the heavy personnel, Slowik dials up a play-action shot play for Nico Collins, the sole wide receiver on the field. Collins runs a post route, and with the Colts in Quarter-Quarter-Half coverage, Collins is working aganst a cornerback playing with outside leverage, and expecting help to the inside.
But the help defender is also expecting the run, and he has his eyes in the offensive backfield. That gives Collins a chance to get over the top of the defense, and Stroud hits him in stride for a 75-yard touchdown.
While the early touchdown gave the Texans the lead, Stroud saved perhaps some of his best throws for the game’s closing act.
With the game knotted at 17 in the fourth quarter, Houston faced a 2nd and 14 near midfield, with under ten minutes remaining. At this point it is worth a quick reminder of Stroud’s pre-draft evaluation, particularly before that Peach Bowl effort agianst Georgia. The Ohio State product faced questions about his athleticism, and about his ability — or even willingness — to try and create plays outside of structure.
It was an issue he seemed to address in his effort against the Bulldogs, but the questions lingered into the Combine and beyond. Stroud even addressed those questions in Indianapolis last spring, while also referring to himself as a “ball-placement specialist.”
It was hard not to think of those discussions when Stroud did ... this:
The Colts rush just four, but they manage to collapse the pocket around Stroud, who is forced to try and create space to get off a throw. Late in the down, after spinning away from pressure first away from — and then back into — the pocket, Stroud uncorks a back-footed throw towards space.
At first, you might be thinking he is throwing this away. But he is trying to connect with Collins, who is working across the field. Somehow, some way, this works. Collins tracks down the throw and the Texans have a fresh set of downs.
Seems pretty creative to me.
As good as that throw was this next one, which came a few plays later, might even be better. With the Texans facing another second-and-long situation, Stroud and Collins connect again:
This time the Colts bring a five-man pressure scheme, sending slot cornerback Kenny Moore II off the right edge. With both pressure off the right edge, and pressure in his face, Stroud has not choice but to stand in the pocket and take the hit. But before he takes that hit, he launches a perfect throw to Collins on a post route, with enough velocity to beat the safety in the middle of the field.
First and goal, Texans.
Houston would score the eventual game-winning touchdown on the very next play. And while Stroud had to sweat out the Colts’ final drive of the game, eventually it was time to celebrate.
The Texans and their rookie quarterback were heading to the playoffs. Stroud finished the game having completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns, without an interception. He finished the season with just five interceptions, an impressive debut for the rookie passer.
On Sunday, Stroud and the rest of the Texans will watch the Jacksonville Jaguars, with a chance to become AFC South champions by the end of the day. Maybe that is how the day will end, maybe not. But either way Houston and their rookie quarterback will be one of just 14 teams left standing come tomorrow morning, with a chance to claim football’s ultimate prize.
Along the way Stroud will see some even brighter lights, but given what we saw Saturday night, he looks more than up to the challenge.
