CJ Stroud and Nico Collins are starting to look like one of the NFL’s most dangerous duos - and on Sunday night in Kansas City, they showed exactly why.
In a statement win against the Chiefs, the Houston Texans leaned on a combination of timely offense and bend-but-don’t-break defense to come away with a 20-10 victory. The highlight?
A second-quarter bomb from Stroud to Collins that reminded everyone just how explosive this pairing can be. Stroud dropped back and launched a deep ball, and Collins did the rest - accelerating past coverage and taking it to within 10 yards of the end zone.
It was the kind of play that shifts momentum, and it set the tone for the night.
Coming into the game, Houston was riding a four-game win streak - and they did it largely without their star rookie quarterback, who had been sidelined with a concussion. But even during Stroud’s absence, the Texans didn’t flinch.
The defense held strong, and Collins kept producing like a true No. 1 receiver. Now, with Stroud back under center, the offense is starting to hum again - and the results are speaking for themselves.
Houston controlled the tempo early, jumping out to a 10-0 lead by halftime. The Chiefs, as they often do, came out swinging in the third quarter, putting up 10 points of their own to tie things up.
But the Texans didn’t blink. They answered with another 10-point burst and slammed the door shut in the fourth quarter.
Stroud’s final stat line wasn’t flashy - 15 completions on 31 attempts for 203 yards and a touchdown - but he made the throws that mattered. His deep connection with Collins was the exclamation point, but throughout the night, he kept the chains moving and avoided costly mistakes.
The ground game played its part, too. Woody Marks was the workhorse, shouldering 26 carries for 68 tough yards.
He also chipped in with two catches for eight yards and a receiving touchdown. Dare Ogunbowale added a five-yard rushing score, giving the Texans a balanced attack that kept the Chiefs’ defense honest.
And then there was Collins - four catches, 121 yards, and a constant headache for Kansas City’s secondary. Every time the Texans needed a spark, he delivered. Jayden Higgins also contributed with three catches for 34 yards, giving Stroud a reliable secondary option.
With the win, Houston improves to 8-5 and keeps its momentum rolling with five straight victories. They now sit in second place in the AFC South, trailing only the Jacksonville Jaguars, and currently hold the seventh seed in the AFC playoff picture - ahead of the Colts and Ravens, and just behind the Chargers and Bills.
There’s still work to be done, but this team is surging at the right time. The Texans will look to keep that energy going when they return home to face the Arizona Cardinals on Dec.
- If Stroud and Collins keep connecting like this, Houston might not just be a playoff contender - they might be a legitimate postseason threat.