Texas’ CJ Stroud offers words of wisdom after Wild Card win over Chargers

The The Houston Texans season will continue, after they defeated the visitors Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in Saturday’s Wild Card opener. The defense intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert four times. His colleague, CJ Stroudthrew for just under 300 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also had some words of wisdom along with teammate Derek Stingley Jr. in a postgame interview with CBS.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” CJ Stroud and a very giddy Derek Stingley Jr. caught up with @EvanWashburn after the @HoustonTexans Wild Card win,” the NFL posted on the CBS account on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

Stingley Jr., the third overall pick in 2022, had two of four interceptions. It was a significant accomplishment for Houston’s defense, as Herbert’s last interception on the road came in Week 2. So four months between away elections is a big deal. That’s something that showed the Texans’ defenders are ready to play. It is an indictment of how good a coach he is DeMezzo Ryans has his unit working as the postseason progresses. That improved game will help keep Houston in the fight as the weather gets colder and the opponents tougher.

C. J Stroud, the Texans could face a tough Divisional Round matchup

If the Buffalo Bills beat the Denver Broncos tomorrow, the Texans will play the #1 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. If the Broncos win, then Houston will travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens in a rematch of last year’s Divisional Round game. So any matchup will be tough for the Texans. The defense will need to play just as well, if not better, than it did on Saturday. Same with Stroud and the offense.

The Texans won today it was no surprise, but they will be the underdogs in almost every match going forward. As talented as they are on paper, they aren’t as deep as the Ravens and Chiefs. It will all come down to play calling and execution, something that winning football teams do better than anyone else. Houston’s opponents have done this time and time again in the past. Can Ryans and his staff get Stroud and his teammates to that level? Come next weekend, the world will see, one way or another.