C.J. Stroud threw one touchdown but also turned the ball over twice in the first half of the Houston Texans’ Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it sent the social media world into a frenzy.
CJ Stroud is showing signs of early onset Will Levis pic.twitter.com/F6x0kKB7ya
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 13, 2026
C.J. Stroud struggled against the Steelers in the first half
This is only the second game in Stroud’s career that he has lost multiple fumbles, showcasing how rare of an occasion this is. Throughout the first half, it seemed like the Texans were struggling with their snaps, with the weather perhaps being a factor. It must be noted that one of the lost fumbles was the result of a failed flea-flicker.
Many of Stroud’s critics argue that he hasn’t gotten near to the heights he reached in his rookie season, and that his play has undermined the Texans, who have a championship contending defense filled with playmakers. However, his defenders point out that the underlying numbers show that he had a good bounce back season after his 2024 sophomore slump, such as his QBR. The second half also didn’t start well for Stroud, as he threw an interception in the red-zone on his opening drive. Although fumbles haven’t been a staple of C.J. Stroud’s game, many fans will now associate the quarterback with that rather embarrassing half of football.
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