C.J. Stroud’s Postseason Collapse Casts Shadow, While Bobby Slowik’s Stock Quietly Rises
C.J. Stroud’s sophomore postseason was supposed to be a statement.
Instead, it turned into a cautionary tale. The Houston Texans quarterback made the wrong kind of history, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw five or more interceptions and fumble five or more times in a single postseason.
That’s not just a slump-that’s a full-blown unraveling under the spotlight.
The low point came in a brutal loss to the New England Patriots, where Stroud tossed four interceptions and effectively torpedoed what had been a stellar performance by the Texans’ defense. It wasn’t just a bad game-it was the kind of outing that leaves a locker room stunned and a fan base searching for answers. And for some in Houston, those answers seem to lead back to a familiar name: Bobby Slowik.
Just hours after Stroud’s meltdown in Foxborough, the Philadelphia Eagles-who are looking to reignite their own offense-put in a request to interview Slowik for their vacant offensive coordinator position. It didn’t take long for the narrative to shift: has Slowik’s absence exposed just how critical he was to Stroud’s early success?
Let’s rewind. In 2023, Slowik’s first season as the Texans’ offensive coordinator, Stroud lit up the league, ran away with Rookie of the Year honors, and looked every bit like the franchise cornerstone Houston had been waiting for.
The offense clicked. The play design was sharp.
The quarterback play was poised and efficient. It wasn’t just a flash-it felt like the foundation of something special.
But Year 2? That foundation cracked.
Slowik and the Texans parted ways amid internal friction, and Nick Caley stepped in to run the offense. The results were underwhelming from the jump.
Stroud struggled to find rhythm, and the offense often looked out of sync, especially when injuries hit the receiving corps and the offensive line crumbled. The protection issues were real, and Stroud was often left to fend for himself behind one of the league’s least reliable fronts.
Still, the regression was hard to ignore. Stroud no longer looked like the ascending star of 2023.
Instead, he looked like a quarterback trying to force plays, pressing under pressure, and losing confidence as the season wore on. And that’s where the Slowik conversation gains traction.
It’s fair to ask: how much of Stroud’s rookie brilliance was Slowik’s scheme? And how much of this season’s collapse was out of the quarterback’s control?
The truth, as it often does in the NFL, probably lies somewhere in the middle. But the league is clearly intrigued by the idea that Slowik’s system-rooted in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive philosophy-might have been the secret sauce that unlocked Stroud’s potential.
That intrigue is starting to show. With teams like the Eagles now sniffing around Slowik, it’s clear that his stock hasn’t taken the same hit as Stroud’s.
In fact, the worse Stroud looks without him, the better Slowik starts to look in retrospect. That 2023 season is aging like fine wine, and more than a few front offices are taking notice.
As the coaching carousel spins, Slowik could find himself back in a prominent play-calling role sooner than later. And if that happens, don’t be surprised if he gets another shot to build around a young quarterback-maybe even one who reminds people of the version of C.J. Stroud we saw not too long ago.
For now, the Texans are left picking up the pieces of a postseason that spiraled out of control. Stroud is still talented, and there’s still time to right the ship.
But the questions are louder now. And Bobby Slowik?
He might just be the one with the answers-this time, somewhere else.