CJ Stroud’s postgame words after the Houston Texans fell to 0-4 had the internet doing a double take, and the line was funny enough to draw an immediate Ted Lasso comparison.
Following Houston’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Stroud tried to frame the message around growth and change. “Every year is different.
Last year's bread is not gonna feed us this year. I remember in college, Coach [Ryan] Day, he's always saying: ‘You have to be an iPhone.
You gotta upgrade every year.' You gotta upgrade, whatever that looks like, from personnel to plays to execution, everything.
You have to rise up.”
Ted Lasso writers are punching air right now that they didn’t think of this lame line https://t.co/jrRt95wO8r
— Carl Regolino (@Carl_Regolino) October 5, 2026
That “iPhone” bit took off fast on X, formerly Twitter, where some users joked that the writers of Ted Lasso were “punching air right now that they didn't think of this lame line.”
It was the kind of inspirational phrasing the show is known for, even if Stroud’s version landed with a little more cheese than polish.
The Texans needed more than a memorable quote to get themselves out of the hole they dug in Week 4. Houston’s offense finally found life against Dallas, but the result still went the wrong way. Stroud threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, and both scores went to Nico Collins.
The bigger issue has been on the other side of the ball. A year ago, Houston’s defense was seen as one of the league’s best units. This season, it has already surrendered 30 or more points in two games.
Dallas, meanwhile, kept rolling after its rough trip to Brazil ended in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Javonte Williams powered the Cowboys with three touchdowns, while Dak Prescott completed 32 of 45 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys now head into a difficult stretch with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles coming up. Even so, the NFC East remains up for grabs. The New York Giants sit in first at 3-1, while the Eagles and Cowboys are both 2-2 and the Washington Commanders are 1-3.
In Other News...
Texans Just Sent A Clear Message About Their QB Depth
The Texans added another layer to their quarterback room ahead of Week 5, signing Mark Gronowski to the 53-man roster after a two-week stay on the practice squad earlier this season. He now slots in as the third quarterback behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills, giving Houston a little more insurance as it moves deeper into the early part of the schedule.
Gronowski arrives with an unusual path for an NFL reserve, having originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins before landing in Houston. His college rsum also stood out for the sheer number of quarterback wins he piled up, which is part of why the Texans continue to see enough in him to keep him around at a spot where depth rarely goes unnoticed. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Could Get A Needed Secondary Boost At The Perfect Time
M.J. Stewart is on track to give the Texans a timely lift in the secondary, with the veteran safety expected back in Week 5 against the Titans after working his way back from a torn quadriceps. He has moved through the practice process since being designated to return from the reserve/PUP list, putting him in position to make his season debut this week.
For a Houston defense that has been tested in recent games, Stewarts return would bring a needed dose of experience and stability. The timing matters, too, with the Titans up next and the Texans looking for any edge they can get on the back end as they try to steady a secondary that has had its share of issues. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Have A Growing Problem Fans Didn't Expect To Blame
Houston entered 2026 with real expectations, and the early weeks have only made the disappointment feel sharper. The Texans are 0-4 despite a defense that was supposed to give them a sturdy floor, and while the offense has shown it can function when healthy, there has still been far too much uneven football to survive the opening month.
C.J. Stroud has done enough to put the Texans in position, guiding late fourth-quarter leads in three of the first four games, and Nico Collins has been a difference-maker when available. Will Anderson Jr. has also played like one of the teams brightest pieces. The issue is what happens after all of that work, because Houston keeps finding ways to let games slip away at the finish, turning what looked like a defensive strength into part of the problem. [Read more 🡒]