Posted on Jan 19

Stroud struggles with four INTs as Texans fall to Patriots 28-16 in playoffs

Posted Jan 19, 2026

The Houston Texans’ season came to a disappointing end after a 28-16 loss to the New England Patriots, with quarterback C.J. Stroud's struggles front and center in the divisional round.

Why it matters: This playoff defeat marks another setback for the Texans, who remain winless in the divisional round of the playoffs. Stroud’s performance raises questions about his development after an inconsistent postseason.

The Texans are now 0-7 in divisional round games and 0-3 under the new head coach-quarterback pairing of DeMeco Ryans and Stroud.
Stroud's four interceptions in this game tied him for the most thrown in a playoff game since Trevor Lawrence did so in 2022, indicating a concerning trend for young quarterbacks in high-pressure situations.

What’s new: Stroud completed just 20 of 47 passing attempts for 212 yards and threw one touchdown alongside those four costly interceptions.

His passer rating for the game was 28, the lowest of his career, and he became the first player in the history of the NFL playoffs to finish with five interceptions and five fumbles in a single postseason.
The Texans defense also faltered, allowing three touchdowns—the most they have conceded since December against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Yes, but: Despite the glaring errors, Stroud received vocal support from his teammates and coaching staff, emphasizing their belief in his abilities moving forward.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans stated, “C.J. is our guy,” highlighting the importance of confidence in building a quarterback's resilience.
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. echoed this sentiment by rallying behind Stroud, suggesting that the team remains committed to his development.

By the numbers: Stroud's postseason statistics tell a troubling story.

Over the course of the playoffs, he finished with two touchdowns and seven total turnovers—five interceptions and two lost fumbles.
His -15.9% completion percentage over expected during the game was the worst mark for any starting quarterback in a divisional round over the past decade.

Zoom In: Stroud's emotional response reflects the weight of expectations placed on him as the franchise quarterback.

After the game, he expressed regret, stating, “I just feel like I let people down. It hurts, and I'm not used to it.”
Such sentiments underline the challenges young quarterbacks face when transitioning from college success to the demands of the NFL.

The bottom line: While the Texans must assess the future of their offense following a disappointing end to their playoff run, the unwavering support from coaches and teammates suggests that Stroud will get another chance to prove his worth next season.

As the team evaluates its overall strategy, the focus will likely shift to fortifying both offensive performance and defensive consistency to break the cycle of playoff disappointments.

Stroud struggles with four INTs as Texans fall to Patriots 28-16 in playoffs

Alex Parker

Posted Jan 19, 2026

The Houston Texans’ season came to a disappointing end after a 28-16 loss to the New England Patriots, with quarterback C.J. Stroud's struggles front and center in the divisional round.

The Texans are now 0-7 in divisional round games and 0-3 under the new head coach-quarterback pairing of DeMeco Ryans and Stroud.

Stroud's four interceptions in this game tied him for the most thrown in a playoff game since Trevor Lawrence did so in 2022, indicating a concerning trend for young quarterbacks in high-pressure situations.

What’s new: Stroud completed just 20 of 47 passing attempts for 212 yards and threw one touchdown alongside those four costly interceptions.

His passer rating for the game was 28, the lowest of his career, and he became the first player in the history of the NFL playoffs to finish with five interceptions and five fumbles in a single postseason.

The Texans defense also faltered, allowing three touchdowns—the most they have conceded since December against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Yes, but: Despite the glaring errors, Stroud received vocal support from his teammates and coaching staff, emphasizing their belief in his abilities moving forward.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans stated, “C.J. is our guy,” highlighting the importance of confidence in building a quarterback's resilience.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. echoed this sentiment by rallying behind Stroud, suggesting that the team remains committed to his development.

By the numbers: Stroud's postseason statistics tell a troubling story.

Over the course of the playoffs, he finished with two touchdowns and seven total turnovers—five interceptions and two lost fumbles.

His -15.9% completion percentage over expected during the game was the worst mark for any starting quarterback in a divisional round over the past decade.

Zoom In: Stroud's emotional response reflects the weight of expectations placed on him as the franchise quarterback.

After the game, he expressed regret, stating, “I just feel like I let people down. It hurts, and I'm not used to it.”

Such sentiments underline the challenges young quarterbacks face when transitioning from college success to the demands of the NFL.

As the team evaluates its overall strategy, the focus will likely shift to fortifying both offensive performance and defensive consistency to break the cycle of playoff disappointments.