The Houston Texans enter Wild Card Weekend focused and battle-tested, shaped by a season that demanded patience and nerve. At the center of it all stands C.J. Stroud, a quarterback who continues to grow faster than most expected and who now carries another piece of NFL history into January football.
This season did not follow a smooth upward arc. Injuries hit at key moments, rhythm came and went, and Stroud himself had to adjust after missing time due to concussion-related issues. The Texans hovered around uncertainty early, searching for consistency while facing some of the league’s toughest defenses. Still, the trajectory never fully stalled. Houston kept winning when it mattered most.
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Stroud’s role in that survival story has been unmistakable. Even when efficiency dipped after his return, his presence stabilized the offense. Before his absence, the Texans were 3-5. After it, they went a perfect 6-0, finishing with momentum and belief that extended beyond the stat sheet.
“I’m just really grateful that God has put us together on this 2025-26 Texans team. And we got the world ahead of us. But to go out and be 12-5 in the regular season, the best record I’ve had so far in the league, with the start we had, it’s just been a blessing. I’m just really grateful to God that I have my brothers and teammates to do it with.
A record that puts C.J. Stroud in elite company
That belief turned into history in Week 18. With a win over Indianapolis, the Houston Texans announced that Stroud had surpassed John Elway for the second-most wins by a quarterback selected first or second overall through his first three seasons in the Super Bowl era. The victory was No. 28 of Stroud’s young NFL career, a figure verified by league records tracked by the NFL.
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 draft, Stroud closed the 2025 regular season completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions despite missing three games. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he finished among just six quarterbacks ranked top 12 in both passing and rushing EPA, while facing three of the top five defensesby EPA per play.
The postseason has become familiar territory. The NFL highlighted that Stroud has now reached the playoffs in all three of his professional seasons, winning each Wild Card matchup before falling in the Divisional Round. Analyst Jayson Braddock of Dr. Roto noted that another mark is within reach: Stroud could become only the fourth quarterback ever to win a playoff game in each of his first three seasons.
Beyond numbers, Stroud’s candid comments about faith and adversity added another layer to his season, echoed by head coach DeMeco Ryans. As Houston prepares for Pittsburgh, the record book already reflects Stroud’s impact. What comes next may define how high this run can go.x|x||x||