C.J. Stroud Leads Texans to Last-Minute Victory Over Jaguars

C.J. Stroud delivered when it mattered most, leading the Houston Texans to a 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. In a thrilling contest marred by penalties and a muffed punt, Stroud maintained his composure during the Texans' final drive despite the team committing 12 penalties for 93 yards and an early special teams error that led to a Jaguars touchdown.

‍

Stroud maximized 2:36 of the clock to guide the Texans 69 yards down the field in nine plays with just over two minutes remaining in the contest. The Texans took the lead with only 18 seconds remaining after the rookie quarterback completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale, followed by Ka'imi Fairbairn's extra point.

‍

"We have a superb quarterback," stated Ogunbowale, who collected four passes for 47 yards. "We all maintained our composure during the huddle." We knew that the moment had arrived to execute a play, and we were secure in our decision.

‍

On the final drive, Stroud completed all five pass attempts and added 11 rushing yards. He underscored the significance of playing error-free football. The Texans could advance on each play by avoiding penalties during their final possession.

‍

Stroud stated, "We simply bonded." "We can advance the ball against any opponent when not impeded by penalties." We were ensnared in that final drive as we maintained our position in front of the posts.

‍

Stroud's passer rating was 110.9, and he completed 27 of 40 attempts, accumulating 345 passing yards. The wide receiver Nico Collins was his preferred target, as he caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Collins commended Stroud's poise in the clutch, reflecting the team's increasing confidence in their rookie quarterback.

‍