The Texans are heading into Foxborough this week, and while their defense has been the headline for much of the season, this matchup against the Patriots is shaping up to be a different kind of test-one that puts the offense, and more specifically C.J. Stroud, squarely in the spotlight.
Last week’s 30-6 Wild Card win over Pittsburgh was a clinic in control. Houston didn’t need fireworks to dominate; they leaned on a defense that dictated the tempo and made life miserable for the Steelers.
But against New England, that same formula might not be enough. The Patriots may not be lighting up scoreboards, but they’re disciplined, physical, and rarely beat themselves.
That means the Texans can’t afford to be one-dimensional. They’ll need more than just defensive muscle-they’ll need offensive answers.
That brings us to Stroud. This is exactly the kind of game the Texans drafted him for.
Not to manage the clock or play it safe, but to take over when the moment demands it. To make throws that turn drives into touchdowns, not field goals.
To create when the structure breaks down. To be the guy defenses fear, not just respect.
And the weapons are there. Christian Kirk showed exactly why he’s a difference-maker, torching Pittsburgh for 144 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
He was a matchup nightmare, especially on intermediate crossers and in space. But that kind of production can’t be a solo act.
Nico Collins was too quiet last week-three catches for 21 yards doesn’t reflect his ability or importance to this offense. He’s a physical presence who can win downfield and in traffic, and Houston needs him fully engaged.
Dalton Schultz, too, has to be more than a safety valve. He’s a reliable option on third downs and in the red zone, and those are the moments that define playoff games.
Then there’s rookie Jayden Higgins, who’s flashed the ability to make contested catches on the perimeter. He doesn’t need a dozen targets, but he can’t be invisible either.
Stroud’s job is to bring it all together. That means getting into rhythm early-quick hitters, glance routes, screens that make the Patriots’ secondary come downhill.
Then, once they’re biting, take the top off. It means staying patient on third-and-long, not forcing throws that aren’t there.
It means being decisive in the red zone, where windows are tighter and moments are faster. And sometimes, it means using his legs-not to run wild, but to extend plays just long enough to punish tight coverage.
New England’s front seven is no joke. They’re physical, they’re disciplined, and they don’t give up much on the ground.
Christian Gonzalez is the kind of corner who changes the calculus on the outside-he can erase receivers, or at least make you think twice. But Houston can’t play scared.
They can’t shrink the playbook and hope the defense holds the opponent under 10 points again. That’s not sustainable, especially on the road in January.
If the Texans want to punch their ticket to the AFC Championship Game, the defense will give them a shot. But it’s Stroud who has to raise the ceiling. This is his moment-not just to manage, but to lead.