Tag: C.J. Stroud MVP

Texans QB C.J. Stroud breaks down emotions returning to Arrowhead Stadium

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud understands there’s an emotional return heading back to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

C.J. Stroud understands that his emotions could run high when the Houston Texans take the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

How could they not for the second-year quarterback? The last time he was here, Houston watched as wide receiver Tank Dell was carted off with a season-ending knee injury.

Not only is Dell Stroud’s best friend, but he’s a constant force in the passing game. And barring a speedy recovery, Dell isn’t expected back until potentially 2026.

But the Texans are more than Dell. They’re more than Stroud. They’re also more than a doormat or “final practice” for Kansas City en route to a sixth consecutive AFC championship appearance.

So Stroud knows that even with Dell in his heart, a victory is the top thing on his mind. That the motivation needed for Houston to strike.

“We’ve got to go do it for him away in the same stadium he got hurt. We’ve got to find a way to not get emotional and channel that,” Stroud said Tuesday. “I think we’ll be able to do that. It will be more inspiring than anything, and we’ll try to get it done for him.”

Looking back, Dell’s injury was the turning point in Week 16’s 27-19 loss. Houston pulled within a point after the 30-yard score with 11:40 left in the third quarter. Medical assistance slowed down the game, but the severity of the play slowed down Houston’s momentum.

Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the PAT to make it 17-16. Two drives later, Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy punched in an 8-yard touchdown as Kansas City coasted.

The offense struggled the rest of the afternoon, totaling 39 yards on three drives that resulted in a pair of three-and-outs.

Dell won’t make the trip with Houston to Arrowhead, but he did stop by to see the team before Saturday’s win over the Chargers. He was on crutches while wearing a large brace around his knee on the sidelines during pregame, but it seems like he was in high spirits.

That jolted life into the locker room, according to Stroud. Three hours later, Houston was moving on after a double-digit victory.

“Tank means a lot to our team. As you see with the guys, seeing him on the sideline, seeing the T-shirts, it’s real love,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.  “And everybody loves Tank. And I love Tank. We miss him”

With a win, the Texans would advance to their first conference championship appearance in franchise history. Even as an 8-point underdog, most fans believe beating the Chiefs is an easier path than traveling to take on the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens.

Stroud said the offense has to be on its “A-game” to secure a win. The margin of error is thin against the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

“This team is really motivated to go out there and play some good ball against a great Kansas City team that’s been in these moments forever,” Strous said. “We know it’s going to take all of us.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including C.J. Stroud) ranked by Total QBR

How did C.J. Stroud perform during the team’s 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens? The QBR ranking is not kind.

Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud posted a Total QBR rating of 13.4 in the team’s 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, bringing his season-long Total QBR average to 49.0.

Nix’s season-long rating has dipped since last week (51.1) and his overall rank (No. 21) among current starters is down two spots since last week (No. 19).

Nix’s traditional passer rating this season is 86.0, which ranks 24th.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks entering the Week 18 regular-season finale.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 17

  1. Lamar Jackson: 78.0
  2. Joe Burrow: 76.7
  3. Josh Allen: 76.7
  4. Jayden Daniels: 72.4
  5. Jordan Love: 69.8
  6. Patrick Mahomes: 68.5
  7. Brock Purdy: 67.8
  8. Jared Goff: 67.1
  9. Kyler Murray: 66.9
  10. Jalen Hurts: 66.1
  11. Matthew Stafford: 64.7
  12. Sam Darnold: 63.4
  13. Justin Herbert: 61.8
  14. Baker Mayfield: 59.4
  15. Drake Maye: 59.0
  16. Bo Nix: 54.1
  17. Russell Wilson: 53.0
  18. Geno Smith: 52.7
  19. Aidan O’Connell: 50.6
  20. Drew Lock: 50.3
  21. C.J. Stroud: 49.0
  22. Aaron Rodgers: 48.3
  23. Bryce Young: 48.0
  24. Anthony Richardson: 46.5
  25. Caleb Williams: 45.5
  26. Michael Penix: 44.1
  27. Cooper Rush: 40.4
  28. Mac Jones: 39.3
  29. Spencer Rattler: 36.9
  30. Tyler Huntley: 36.7
  31. Will Levis: 30.2
  32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 18.9

Stroud will look to improve his Total QBR rating when the Texans travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Kickoff from Nissan Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

C.J. Stroud give brutally honest response on being booed vs. Ravens

C.J. Stroud called his day against the Baltimore Ravens “one of the worst performances of his career,” and it’s hard to blame him.

As the Houston Texans headed into the locker room before halftime, a swarm of boos reverbed off the steel beams inside NRG Stadium.

That sound carried over as players left the field for the final time in the regular season as the Texans couldn’t muster up a sign of offense in a 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud understands the fan frustration, especially admitted his performance in Wednesday’s Christmas showdown was “probably one of my worst games” in his career.

“People are entitled to their opinions. They care about the game. Their emotions matter, so I understand,” Stroud said after failing to find the end zone. “This is not my first time and probably won’t be my last. It’s not something to internalize and point the finger at yourself but it is something that you can use to motivate you, to not want those moments anymore.

Last season, Stroud took the NFL by storm. Media pundits declared the 2023 No. 2 overall pick the league’s next “elite QB” after guiding Houston to its first 10-win season and a playoff berth in four years.

But with all the success came expanded expectations for an encore in Year 2. Fans believed after a bountiful offseason, plus a sure-fire quarterback,

Houston would be a force in the AFC next to Buffalo and Kansas City.
Instead, the Texans are trudging their way to an underwhelming division title while being booed off the field to make room for Beyoncé’s halftime show.

“What are you going to do? Cry and weep about it?,” Stroud said. “Of course, it’s not easy, but at the same time, it’s part of the game, sometimes you go out there and lay an egg. It’s not easy to sit out here and say that, but that’s what happened tonight.”

Stroud, who finished 17-of-31 passing for 185 yards and an interception, can’t take all the blame. He was sacked five times, including three times on third down to knock Houston out of range for a conversion.

The passing attack was limited without Tank Dell following his season-ending injury. John Metchie III stepped up as the No. 2 option, but his 48 receiving yards could only provide so much.

The Texans finished 4-of-15 on third-down conversions and could only muster up 211 total yards of offense compared to Baltimore’s 423. Wednesday marked the worst performance from a DeMeco Ryans-led defense in two seasons.

“Nobody played good enough for us to win the football game today. There were opportunities we had that we didn’t make, not only from C.J., but defensively, the tackling, all those things,” Ryans said postgame. “In position to make plays, at the end of the day you have to make plays.”

Stroud, who’s doubled his interception total from his Offensive Rookie of the Year season, could make up for his rocky when they return to NRG Stadium as the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

Houston currently sits at rock bottom following the chants of boos from fans. That’s a good thing in his mind since the only place to go is up.

“At the end of the day we clinched our division. We still have an opportunity to go in the playoffs,” Stroud said. “Got to finish this year the right way against Tennessee, and hopefully by that time we’re in a groove and rolling when the playoffs come.”

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including C.J. Stroud) ranked by Total QBR entering Week 16

Here’s where Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud stacks up among other passers in QBR entering Week 16.

Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud saw his passer rating drop following a 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15.  His Total QBR rating of 48.3 remained intact among all 32 passers.

Stroud’s season-long rating remains in good standing entering the final four games of the regular season, but he still ranks among the bottom half of passers at No. 23 overall.

Stroud’s traditional passer rating this season is 87.8, which ranks 22nd.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks this fall entering Christmas weekend.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 15

  1. Michael Penix: 95.3
  2. Josh Allen: 79.3
  3. Lamar Jackson: 76.0
  4. Joe Burrow: 74.0
  5. Kyler Murray: 68.3
  6. Jayden Daniels: 67.9
  7. Matthew Stafford: 66.4
  8. Jordan Love: 66.3
  9. Jared Goff: 65.6
  10. Jalen Hurts: 65.4
  11. Brock Purdy: 65.2
  12. Patrick Mahomes: 64.6
  13. Tua Tagovailoa: 61.2
  14. Sam Darnold: 60.2
  15. Drake Maye: 58.7
  16. Justin Herbert: 56.5
  17. Baker Mayfield: 56.1
  18. Russell Wilson: 55.3
  19. Aaron Rodgers: 53.9
  20. Mason Rudolph: 53.4
  21. Bo Nix: 52.2
  22. Geno Smith: 52.1
  23. C.J. Stroud: 49.8
  24. Caleb Williams: 48.1
  25. Anthony Richardson: 46.5
  26. Drew Lock: 45.3
  27. Bryce Young: 44.0
  28. Spencer Rattler: 42.0
  29. Aidan O’Connell: 40.7
  30. Cooper Rush: 36.3
  31. Mac Jones: 34.1
  32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 16.

Fresh off winning the AFC South division title for the second straight season, Stroud will look to improve his Total QBR rating when the Texans travel north to take the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including C.J. Stroud) ranked by Total QBR

Here’s where Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud stacks up among other passers in QBR entering Week 14.

Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud posted a Total QBR rating of 71.9 in the team’s 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 That performance knocked up his season-long Total QBR average to 53.2.

That’s a slight increase from last week’s rating (51.3), which is why Stroud’s ranking among QBs (No. 22) rose two spots from last week (No. 24).

Stroud’s traditional passer rating this season is 87.9, which ranks 22nd.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks entering Thanksgiving weekend

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 13

  1. Kyler Murray: 75.1
  2. Josh Allen: 74.5
  3. Joe Burrow: 73.9
  4. Lamar Jackson: 73.4
  5. Jayden Daniels: 71.8
  6. Jameis Winston: 70.0
  7. Derek Carr: 65.0
  8. Brock Purdy: 64.7
  9. Jalen Hurts: 64.6
  10. Patrick Mahomes: 64.4
  11. Matthew Stafford: 60.8
  12. Jordan Love: 60.4
  13. Tua Tagovailoa: 60.2
  14. Drake Maye: 58.0
  15. Jared Goff: 57.7
  16. Russell Wilson: 56.9
  17. Sam Darnold: 56.0
  18. Bo Nix: 55.5
  19. Geno Smith: 55.0
  20. Justin Herbert: 55.0
  21. Kirk Cousins: 54.6
  22. C.J. Stroud: 53.6
  23. Aidan O’Connell: 53.3
  24. Baker Mayfield: 52.9
  25. Anthony Richardson: 49.5
  26. Aaron Rodgers: 48.2
  27. Caleb Williams: 47.1
  28. Bryce Young: 39.1
  29. Drew Lock: 39.1
  30. Cooper Rush: 34.3
  31. Will Levis: 32.9
  32. Mac Jones: 28.1

Stroud will look to improve his Total QBR rating after the bye when the Texans host the Miami Dolphins in Week 15.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud explains struggles following loss to Titans

C.J. Stroud made it clear that his performance on Sunday wasn’t up to par for the Houston Texans as they fell to 7-5.

C.J. Stroud made it clear that even though the defense gave up 32 points to the Tennessee Titans, he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain.

It’s why the Houston Texans are sitting at 7-5 after a 32-27 loss at home.

Stroud, who threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, also tossed two interceptions. He completed just over 60% of his passes and tossed a pair of interceptions, including one to Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray on a scoring drive in the third quarter. He sacked for a safety with 1:17 remaining and nearly ran out of the back of the end zone.

Dan Orlovsky would have been proud. Texans fans are frustrated and Stroud can understand why.

“It’s no secret I haven’t been playing well for my standard,” Stroud said following a second consecutive home loss.  “Everybody has to look in the mirror and try to get things fixed. So that’s gotta be the plan for this week. Practicing. Getting better. Personally, I got to get better. As a team, we have to get better.”

Week 12 epitomized the Texans’ season up to this point as Houston enters its final game before the bye. An 80-yard kickoff return by Dameon Pierce set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to rookie tight end and former Ohio State teammate Cade Stover.

Down by 10, Houston responded with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, then a 56-yard gain to the Pro Bowl receiver to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal.

Then, much like the second half of the season, everything went wrong.
Stroud and John Metchie III weren’t on the same page with just over a minute remaining in the first half, leading to an interception and Nick Folk’s field goal. The offense never reached the end zone and settled for two more attempts for Fairbairn while trusting the defense to deliver.

But the final blow came on the Texans’ second-to-last drive. Stroud connected with Collins for a 33-yard touchdown that would have given them a four-point lead, but the play was nullified by an illegal motion penalty on Joe Mixon and Tank Dell.

Stroud said it was on him not having his teammates prepared for the snap.

“I got to give the play better and make sure guys are on the same page, and even when we break the huddle, still communicate a little bit and make sure everybody’s doing what they’re doing,” Stroud said. “But it was my fault.”
Stroud will take ownership of the offensive woes, but it’s not all on him.

Houston’s offensive line gave him a clean pocket in the first half and allowed four sacks in the second. That factored into a passing yards and completion percentage between the first and final 30 minutes.

Houston also couldn’t run the football to save face. Mixon, fresh off a three-touchdown outing against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football,” averaged 1.6 yards per attempt on 14 carries.

“They’re a really good front. Really good front,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We knew that going into the game. But it doesn’t matter. Every front is good. You have to own the line of scrimmage.”

Houston has seven days to recoup before it travels to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. It can’t afford a loss, but it also can’t waste a strong defensive performance.

The Texans tied their franchise record for sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (15) in a game. Safety Jimmie Ward intercepted Titans second-year quarterback Will Levis and returned it for a 67-yard touchdown. Kris Boyd recovered a muffed punt to set up Houston inside Tennessee’s 40.

Outings like that won’t always be promised, so Stroud’s already getting prepped for film study on Monday and an aggressive week of practice.

“Everybody has to look at themselves in the mirror and try to get things fixed,” Stroud said. “That will be the plan this week. Practicing and getting better.”

Texans QB C.J. Stroud ready for first showdown with Cowboys DE Micah Parsons

A rivalry could be brewing between Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud called Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons more than a friend. The second-year passer said Parsons is more like family and considers him “definitely a brother.

On Monday, Parsons, a favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will play the role of bully older brother when trying to bring down Stroud behind the line of scrimmage at AT&T Stadium.

Good. Stroud wants Monday’s matchup to be a challenge.

“All that stuff is fun, but we will both be locked in and ready to win on Monday and ready to do our jobs to get a victory,” Stroud said Thursday of the matchup.

Once opponents in the Big Ten at Ohio State and Penn State, Parsons and Stroud first bonded when the latter appeared on the defensive end’s podcast “The Edge.” That transformed into a weekend of draft coverage with Bleacher Report.

Eventually, the two’s friendship went international as part of the ambassadors of the American football program. Stroud and Parsons visited  Beijing and Shanghai in China and Toyko in Japan while conducting football clinics.

It was there a friendship formed to brotherhood.

“(We’re) always messing with each other, always trying to one up one another,” Stroud said. “I have that relationship with my friends back home, too. I had my buddy (in Asia); he had his friend who came from home. We all just had a brotherhood when we left.”

Parsons and Stroud have something to play for beyond bragging rights. Houston (6-4) is coming off back-to-back losses after blowing first-half leads and has lost three of its last four games.

Dallas (3-6), which will be without Dak Prescott for the remainder of the season, plans on making a late push to the playoffs behind the defense’s backbone. Parsons serves as the captain. In his return last week, he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble.

“You can tell they have been dinged up a little bit,” Stroud said of the Cowboys’ defense. “Micah was a big part of that. His presence was felt against the Eagles last week.”

Stroud hasn’t gone up against Pasons in his career, but he respects his craft in a similar regard to teammate Will Anderson Jr., calling both players “relentless pass rushers” when trying to reach the quarterback.

“He is what I see in Will and what I see from those guys from the sideline, where I’m like, ‘Man, I am glad I am not on the other team,’ ” Stroud said. “He is that guy where you have to be like, ‘We’ve got to do something for this dude.’ “

Parsons has become a face of the NFL’s defensive corps. Stroud has transformed into one of the league’s top passers.

Monday will mark the first time the Texans and Cowboys have played since 2022. That December, Stroud was preparing for a College Football Playoff semifinal at Ohio State.

He now plans on winning for Houston. Maybe the NFL will transform the Lone Star Showdown into an annual rivalry with the two frienemies as headliners? 

“This will hopefully be one of many matchups,” Stroud said. “I wish him the best, and I always wish him the best.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 pm. The game will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN. 

Texans QB C.J. Stroud comments on loss of WR Stefon Diggs

The Houston Texans will be without one of their top players in Stefon Diggs for the remainder of the 2024 season.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said he didn’t have the words to describe the loss of Stefon Diggs.

It’s a next-man-up mentality inside the Texans’ locker room, but the second-year passer knows the season will be different without the four-time Pro Bowler by his side.

“You can’t really — you try to think positively about it, but it’s not a bunch of positive thoughts,” Stroud said. “I just feel bad for him. I’m praying for him.”

Diggs suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact injury during Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts and will miss the remainder of the regular season. He’s expected to make a full recovery and play in 2025.
While attempting to run a route against Kenny Moore, Diggs grabbed his leg and immediately dropped to the ground. While he was able to walk off on his own pressure, he headed to the locker room and did not return to the field.

“He was having one of the best times he’s ever had on a team, at least that’s what he told us,” Stroud said. “I just feel for him and praying for him and just hoping that he keeps his head up high and he’ll bounce back even stronger.”
Acquired from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round pick, Diggs was expected to be the constant No. 2 option for Stroud’s passing attack in a breakout year.
With the Texans voiding the final years of his contract, Diggs will become a free agent next offseason, meaning he could play elsewhere in 2025.
“He’s one guy who gave his all to everything we ever asked him to do,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s hurting and we’re hurting for him as well.”
A consistent playmaker during his time with the Bills and Minnesota Vikings, Diggs served as the Texans’ top option once Nico Collins was placed on the injured reserve. Before the injury, he ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47) and was second on the Texans in receiving yards (496).

He was on pace for a season-high performance Sunday after hauling in a 49-yard catch in the third quarter. Diggs left with a team-leading five receptions for 81 yards.

“His impact is huge,” Stroud said. “Stef has been somebody who you know you can lean on as a friend, as a teammate, as a brother, somebody who gives you life advice and somebody who just is an OG, just a vet, has played a lot of ball and lived a lot of life.”

Right now, the Texans don’t seem interested in adding a receiver before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5. Their options are also limited after the Ravens traded for Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson Tuesday afternoon.

Davante Adams (Jets), Amari Cooper (Bills) and DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) were all other options that were traded to AFC contenders earlier this month. Jacksonville’s Christian Krik was expected to be moved before he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone on Sunday.

Houston has weapons outside Diggs and Collins, but the production hasn’t matched the hype entering Week 9. Tank Dell, who broke out with 709 receiving yards in 11 games as a rookie, is third on the Texans in receiving yards (229) and touchdowns (2).

He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in Sunday’s win over the Colts during the second quarter.

“Tank has been an explosive player in college he was explosive, he has been explosive for us,” Ryans said. “Tank just has to be Tank.”

 

The Texans envision Dell as a franchise cornerstone, so he’ll need to step up as the new No. 1 until Collins can return.
Dell’s not alone, however, since Robert Woods, John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson are all expected to produce starting Thursday night against the New York Jets.
“Everybody has got to step up,” Dell said. “Even if you are one of the star players, you still have to step up and do more and produce more. I know all of us are more than capable of doing that. So, we are going to try to go out there and make plays.”

Where does C.J. Stroud rank among starting QBs in Total QBR?

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud remains one of the top passers in QBR rankings entering Week 6.

Despite overall offensive limitations this season, Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud isn’t slowing down. A week after throwing for over 300 yards in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stroud sliced and diced the Buffalo Bills’ secondary with a 331-yard outing en route to a 23-20 win.

With that positive performance, Stroud rose from No. 11 to No. 9 in ESPN’s Total QBR rankings this week. ESPN gave Stroud a 78.4 Total QBR rating against the Bills, his best of the season.

Stroud’s traditional passer rating against Buffalo was 97.6, which actually represented one of his lower ratings of the year. It’s still a promising look, but far from the standard for the second-year target.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric also considers scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and  looks at “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

Through five games, Stroud’s thrown three interceptions and been sacked 14 times. Two turnovers came in the 34-7 loss against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.

Here’s a look at where Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks entering Week 6.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR entering Week 6

  1. Josh Allen: 77.6
  2. Joe Burrow: 73.6
  3. Jayden Daniels: 73.2
  4. Andy Dalton: 67.1
  5. Lamar Jackson: 67.1
  6. Kyler Murray: 66.4
  7. Brock Purdy: 66.0
  8. C.J. Stroud: 64.4
  9. Baker Mayfield: 64.0
  10. Derek Carr: 63.6
  11. Geno Smith: 63.5
  12. Daniel Jones: 61.3
  13. Jalen Hurts: 59.3
  14. Sam Darnold: 58.7
  15. Dak Prescott: 56.8
  16. Patrick Mahomes: 55.8
  17. Kirk Cousins: 55.2
  18. Matthew Stafford: 53.8
  19. Trevor Lawrence: 53.2
  20. Anthony Richardson: 49.3
  21. Aaron Rodgers: 49.1
  22. Justin Fields: 48.0
  23. Jordan Love: 46.1
  24. Jared Goff: 44.8
  25. Bo Nix: 43.1
  26. Justin Herbert: 41.8
  27. Gardner Minshew: 41.1
  28. Jacoby Brissett: 38.9
  29. Caleb Williams: 36.3
  30. Will Levis: 27.3
  31. Tyler Huntley: 23.5
  32. Deshaun Watson: 21.0

Nix and the Broncos will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

NFL analyst gives major praise to Texans QB C.J. Stroud entering Week 5

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud remains the talk of the NFL world entering Week 5’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

C.J. Stroud isn’t the next Patrick Mahomes, but the NFL analysts can’t stop gushing over his potential.

NBC Sports’ Chris Simms praised the second-year Houston Texans signal-caller following his 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday at NRG Stadium. Houston needed 59 minutes and 42 seconds to secure a victory thanks to a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to running back Dare Ogunbowale.

“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL,” Simms said during NBC’s Football Night in America broadcast. “And I’ll say this, too: I think he may be the best pocket-passing quarterback in all of football. He never misses a target.

“It doesn’t matter if you stop the Texans’ run game or not, because this guy at quarterback, with Nico Collins catching it on the other end, they’re almost unstoppable. C.J. Stroud I can not say enough good things about.”

Simms is right. The duo of Stroud and Collins has been a two-man wrecking crew keeping Houston alive at 3-1 through four weeks. In all three victories, Collins has finished with at least six catches for over 100 yards.

In the Week 3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Stroud tossed a pair of interceptions. Collins finished with just 86 receiving yards and only one pass over 20-plus yards downfield.

Stroud taking over games is far from new for Texans fans. Last season, he orchestrated multiple down-to-wire drives to secure the victory, including Week 9’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After securing the first postseason berth in four years en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud has lofty goals and high expectations to met in 2024. The Texans look to be a contender in the AFC alongside Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City.

With the arrival of Stefon Diggs, Houston could be a sneaky and underrated dark horse to hoist up its first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. The league will have a better understanding of where the Texans lie when they take on the Bills this Sunday at noon CT.