The Houston Texans are no longer a rebuilding team hoping for brighter days-they’re a legitimate playoff threat, and they’ve earned every bit of that reputation the hard way.
Let’s rewind to April 2023, when the Texans made one of the boldest draft-day moves in recent memory: selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick, then immediately trading up to take edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. at No.
- At the time, the move raised plenty of eyebrows.
Critics questioned the value of giving up a future first-rounder-especially with the 2024 quarterback class, headlined by Caleb Williams, looming large. But now, nearly two full seasons later, it’s clear: that gamble has paid off in a big way.
Stroud and Anderson aren’t just foundational pieces-they’re tone-setters for a Texans squad that’s grown into one of the AFC’s most balanced and dangerous teams. And on Sunday night in Arrowhead, they showed exactly why.
In a gritty, playoff-style 20-10 win over the Chiefs, Anderson came up with a game-shifting hit on Patrick Mahomes on a crucial fourth down in the fourth quarter. It was the kind of moment that reminds you why Houston was so aggressive to get him in the first place.
Meanwhile, Stroud-still finding his rhythm after missing time with a concussion-stood tall in the pocket despite relentless pressure from Kansas City’s defense. He wasn’t perfect, but he was poised, and he delivered when it mattered most.
That’s been the story of Stroud’s second season. The numbers haven’t always been eye-popping, and the offense has hit its share of lulls.
But when the moment calls for it, Stroud answers. He finished Sunday night 15-of-31 for 203 yards and a touchdown, and more importantly, he led a clutch six-play, 31-yard drive capped by Dare Ogunbowale’s five-yard go-ahead score with just under seven minutes left.
Rookie running back Woody Marks chipped in with some tough yards, and Stroud found rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in key spots. It wasn’t flashy-it was gutsy.
And that’s the identity this team has embraced.
Let’s not forget where this team was just a couple years ago. The Texans started the 2023 season 0-3.
They were written off by just about everyone. But since then?
Two straight AFC South titles. Two straight divisional round appearances.
And now, after knocking off the defending champs in their own house, they’re tied with the Colts at 8-5 and holding the AFC’s seventh seed.
This run hasn’t come without risk. Houston made some controversial calls this past offseason.
Trading Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington was a shocker. Instead of reinforcing the offensive line in the draft, they loaded up on skill-position players.
They also handed the play-calling reins to Nick Caley, a first-time NFL offensive coordinator. And early on, the results weren’t there.
Stroud looked out of sync. The offense sputtered.
The critics returned.
But the Texans stuck to their plan. And now it’s starting to click.
Stroud has leaned heavily on Nico Collins, who continues to emerge as a true No. 1 target. The rookies are contributing.
And while the offense is still a work in progress, the defense has become the backbone of the team. That’s where head coach DeMeco Ryans has made his biggest mark.
Now in Year 3, his unit is fast, physical, and opportunistic-everything you want from a playoff-caliber defense.
Even some of the splashier offseason additions-Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon-haven’t always produced the fireworks fans hoped for. But the Texans have figured out how to win anyway.
It’s not about one superstar carrying the load. It’s about a roster that’s been carefully built to complement its quarterback and its identity.
And Stroud? He just keeps proving he’s the guy.
He shook off a slow start to the season, missed three games with a concussion, and has now led the Texans to back-to-back wins over the Colts and Chiefs-both games with serious playoff implications. His wild-card performance last year against the Chargers wasn’t perfect, but he delivered when it counted.
That’s the theme with Stroud: when the stakes are highest, he rises.
Houston’s formula isn’t flawless, but it’s working. And for the first time in a long time, the Texans look like a team that could make real noise in January.
Maybe even February. No, they’re not the AFC’s top seed.
They’re not the flashiest offense. But they’ve got a defense that can go toe-to-toe with anyone, and a quarterback who doesn’t blink under pressure.
The Texans didn’t follow the conventional path. They didn’t wait for the next quarterback class.
They didn’t build the offense the “right” way. They made bold moves, took big swings, and trusted their guys.
Now, with three weeks left in the regular season, they’re in the thick of the playoff race-and they’re not just happy to be here. They’re built to do damage.
So go ahead and second-guess the trades. Question the draft strategy.
But the Texans are winning. And in a league where results speak louder than anything else, that’s all the approval they need.