As we’re all well aware, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a disastrous outing in the AFC divisional round against the New England Patriots. The backlash from this, as is often the case in sports fandom, was knee-jerkish and rapidly took on a torches and pitchforks vibe.
On the surface, it’s cheap and easy to say “C.J. Stroud cost the Texans a trip to the AFC Championship game.”
When you go below the surface, you find a variety of reasons that led to Stroud’s ultimate failures in that game.
If you take a step back and look at things objectively, the fail-points in the Texans chain are far more numerous than just 1 guy.
Five reasons the Texans Lost to the Patriots
- Nick Caley’s offensive scheme was never, not once, Championship worthy in all of 2025. Ever.
- The offensive line that should have kept Stroud from having to run for his life then try and force miracles, was down several starters – and let’s face it – the line was never Championship caliber either.
- Caley’s play calling was never, not once, Championship worthy in 2025. Ever.
- A balanced offense requires a solid offensive line, productive run game, healthy wide receivers and dependable tight ends. None of which were really there in the full 60 minutes of that game.
- As hypothesized, the people speaking into Stroud’s ear might not be saying the things this particular young man needs to hear in order to rise above.
That’s five quick points that all wag the finger in directions other than Stroud. None of which are easily dismissed.
But, a not-so-insignificant number of football fans don’t see those things, just the actual on-field play results. And, that same not-so-insignificant number of football fans are easily riled up by sensationalistic takes from national level talking heads who get paid to sensationalize things. Particularly things that align with a not-so-insignificant number of football fans superficial interpretation of the game.
In no way is this right or wrong, but it is factual.
Unlike the rumor of Stroud being launched to another team for a hand full of magic beans.
During a recent interview, Texans general manager Nick Caserio shared his thoughts on the trade rumors:
Now that the Texans have affirmed Stroud isn’t going anywhere, it’s time to address the other 5 bullet points listed above.
- Nick Caley did improve as an offensive coordinator as the season went on. Unfortunately, when faced with a great opponent such as the Mike Vrabel/Terrell Williams duo Caley may once again come up short.
- Lots and lots of talk around the offensive line. Mock Drafters often have the Texans taking multiple o-lineman in the early rounds. Other pundits have them grabbing free agents and even trading for top tier talent. No matter how it shakes out, clearly the o-line needs to be a priority that’s addressed early so they have time to build chemistry. O-line coach, Cole Popovich needs to get the chemistry right – and fast.
- Maybe it’s time to bring in another “senior assistant” who is an Erhardt-Perkins playcalling master.
QBMethod.com on the Erhardt-Perkins offense:
Core Philosophy: “Pass to Score, Run to Win”
1. Possession Football: The Erhardt-Perkins offense is built around the concept of controlling the football. While traditionally seen as a run-first, play-action passing offense, its modern adaptations show that possession football and passing are not mutually exclusive. The primary goal is to maintain control of the ball, whether through running or passing.
2. Adaptability: One of the standout features of the Erhardt-Perkins offense is its adaptability. It does not require a superstar quarterback or elite receivers to be effective. Instead, it focuses on finding players who fit the system and can execute the plays efficiently. This makes it easier for teams to build a competitive offense without relying on high-profile talent.
3. Ease of Learning: Compared to other complex offensive systems, the Erhardt-Perkins offense is relatively straightforward to learn. This simplicity allows players to grasp the playbook quickly and execute plays with precision, even in challenging conditions like bad weather.
- Job 1 on balancing the offense is the o-line, #2 is running back. In my decades of watching and covering NFL ball, I’ve never seen anything like what’s going on with Joe Mixon. What I have seen is when this much obfuscation exists, the player is never a high-impact guy for that organization again. Based on that, the Texans need to use a high value resource to secure an elite RB1 this off-season.
- This last bullet-point is likely the hardest to quantify and probably the one most fans will never have visibility to, as far as corrective actions. Jerrod Johnson is the Texans quarterbacks coach. Fans will likely not know what the true relationship between Johnson and Stroud looks like until it’s far in the rear view mirror, if ever. Does that mean head coach Demeco Ryans needs another “quarterback whisperer” on staff? Maybe another “senior assistant”? A coach who specializes in QB development and play calling would be a coup, but also hard to find.
If you know anyone who keeps insisting Stroud will/should hit the trade block, aim them at this post. If nothing else, it should spark some interesting discussions that go further downfield than the butt-fumble “trade Stroud nowz!!” silliness.
