A poor postseason for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud got worse Sunday on a turnover-laden day as the New England Patriots secured a 28-16 win over Houston to advance to the AFC championship game.
After turning the ball over three times in Monday’s wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stroud committed four in the divisional round against the Patriots — all in the first half and all of them on interceptions.
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Stroud’s interceptions accounted for half of the eight total turnovers between the two teams, the most in a playoff game since the 2015 NFC championship game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye lost two fumbles and threw an interception of his own as he struggled with ball security against Houston’s ball-hawking defense. He also committed two fumbles that the Patriots recovered.
But it was Stroud’s four turnovers — and a fifth Texans giveaway on a second-half red zone fumble by Woody Marks — that set the tone for New England’s win.
Stroud finished the day completing 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards with 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 28, which is tied with former Ram Deiter Brock as the 29th worst in playoff history.
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Stroud lost two fumbles and threw an interception against the Steelers last week, but Houston’s defense scored two touchdowns that game to spark a 30-6 Texans win. Stroud’s turnovers were too much for Houston to overcome against New England.
Carlton Davis III nabs 2 interceptions, including sensational sideline grab
Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III secured two of the interceptions thrown by Stroud, including an incredible diving sideline grab for Stroud’s first turnover of the game late in the first quarter. Stroud threw a first-and-10 pass to the left sideline targeting Christian Kirk. He overthrew Kirk, and Davis made a play on the ball.
Davis laid out and made a diving catch, but appeared initially to land out of bounds. He got up and celebrated the play immediately.
A sideline angle confirmed that Davis secured the catch and landed in bounds before rolling out of bounds — just barely. Davis’ right knee hit the green just before he rolled out of bounds.
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An inch more, and he would have been out.
The Patriots turned the ball over two plays later on a Drake Maye fumble that set up a Texans touchdown. But Stroud’s four interceptions were the story of the first half as the Patriots built a 21-10 lead.
Stroud’s pick 6 gives Patriots the lead
Stroud’s second interception was the costliest. He faced pressure and got hit by linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson while throwing off his back foot. The ball fluttered high in the air, and cornerback Marcus Jones intercepted it for a 26-yard pick 6 to give New England a 14-10 lead.
Stroud threw another interception on Houston’s next possession.
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This time, Texans receiver Xavier Hutchinson couldn’t handle a pass over the middle from Stroud. The ball bounced off of Hutchinson’s hands and into those of cornerback Craig Woodson.
Then, just before halftime, Davis bookended Stroud’s four-interception half with his second of the day. This time, Davis read Stroud from the defensive backfield and jumped a curl route by Hutchinson.
Davis outfought Hutchinson for the ball for an interception near midfield that stunted another Texans drive in Patriots territory.
At halftime of Sunday’s game, Stroud had committed seven turnovers in six quarters of playoff football this postseason. And he’s now the second quarterback since 2000 to throw four interceptions in the first half of a playoff game.
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Trevor Lawrence did so in 2022 as the Los Angeles Chargers built a 27-0 halftime lead against his Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild-card round. But the Jaguars rallied for a 31-30 win to stun the Chargers.
There was no such comeback for the Texans on Sunday.
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