CJ Stroud, Texans receive reality check from NFL legend during playoff loss

NFL fable Troy Aikman brought up the harsh world the Houston Texans volition person to code successful the offseason pursuing their brutal nonaccomplishment to the New England Patriots connected Sunday.

Aikman, who is simply a colour commentator for ESPN, summarized C.J. Stroud's play against the Patriots and made wide that the powers that beryllium successful the Texans’ enactment volition person to marque immoderate pugnacious decisions successful the offseason.

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New England Patriots linebacker K'lavon Chaisson, right, hits Houston Texans backmost C.J. Stroud during the archetypal fractional of an NFL divisional playoff shot game, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

"DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio, they’ve got immoderate pugnacious decisions they gotta marque astir this squad connected the violative broadside of the ball," Aikman said. "They replaced Bobby Slowick past twelvemonth aft his 2 years arsenic the violative coordinator.

"C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie occurrence for the past 2 years. He's not been the aforesaid player. We've not seen the improvement from him. There's a crushed for that, and it has to beryllium addressed."

Stroud had 4 interceptions successful the 28-16 nonaccomplishment to the Patriots. He was 20-of-47 with 212 passing yards and 1 touchdown pass. While the defence gave Houston plentifulness of changes to people points and marque it a adjacent game, Stroud was ne'er capable to elevate the offense.

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ESPN commentator Troy Aikman walks the tract anterior to the crippled betwixt the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders astatine Arrowhead Stadium connected Oct. 27, 2025 successful Kansas City, Missouri.   (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

The one-time Pro Bowler besides struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers successful the AFC Wild Card Round, fumbling the shot 5 times and throwing an interception successful a 30-6 win.

"Seven turnovers successful the 2 playoff games," Aikman added. "Your astir important games of the year, you can’t conscionable flooded that benignant of backmost play."

Ryans backed Stroud aft the nonaccomplishment to New England.

"C.J.'s our guy," Ryans said. "I believed that helium could travel backmost retired successful the 2nd fractional and flip it."

Houston Texans backmost C.J. Stroud speaks astatine a quality league aft an NFL divisional playoff shot crippled against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

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Stroud volition participate an offseason with the anticipation of getting a large declaration extension. He has 10,876 passing yards and 62 passing touchdowns successful 46 vocation games. He’s 3-3 successful playoff starts but has ne'er made it retired of the divisional round.

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