The Houston Texans were able to climb back to the .500 mark with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. It was an exciting, back-and-forth game as both teams moved the ball up and down the field, taking momentum from one another continuously.
In the end, it was the Texans who were able to pull it out, as they won the game 39-37. With six seconds remaining in the game. C.J. Stroud hit wide receiver Tank Dell for a 15-yard touchdown to take the two-point lead. Despite the two-point conversion not being converted, Houston was able to escape with the victory.
It was another incredible performance by Stroud, who has blown away all expectations on him coming into his rookie season. There is a lot of pressure on a player who was selected No. 2 overall in a draft, but he has not been phased by it at all.
The Ohio State product has been having one of the most productive rookie seasons in NFL history and he added to that against the Buccaneers. The Texans emerging star broke numerous rookie records with his performance in Week 9.
Stroud completed 30-of-42 passes for 470 yards and five touchdowns without an interception, resulting in a passer rating of 147.8. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, that passer rating is the highest in a single game by a rookie with at least 30 passing attempts in NFL history.
The yardage is the most by a rookie in a game in league history as well. Stroud is now the youngest player to throw for at least 450 yards and is only the sixth player to record at least 450 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in the game.
The Texans look to have landed a superstar in the making in the 2023 NFL Draft. Many people questioned whether or not they would take a quarterback, but it looks like they made the right decision going with Stroud.
That selection has been a home run as the Texans have already won as many games in the 2023 season as they did in any of the previous three. Things are certainly looking up in Houston after some brutal campaigns with Stroud as the centerpiece of the turnaround.
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