The Houston Texans entered the 2025 postseason looking like a team ready to take that next step. After back-to-back years falling just short in the Divisional Round, there was a sense that this time might be different. The defense had evolved into one of the league’s most fearsome units, DeMeco Ryans had his team playing with swagger, and CJ Stroud-despite some late-season bumps-was still viewed as the guy who could lead them deep into January.
But once again, the Texans hit a wall in the Divisional Round. And this time, it wasn’t the defense that let them down.
That unit showed up, clamped down, and gave Houston a real shot. The problem?
Tank Dell said people can say what they want about C.J. Stroud, but when they get back out there together on the field he said “It’s going to be special.” pic.twitter.com/xoHQBumgXO
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) January 28, 2026
Stroud couldn’t keep the wheels on. Four first-half interceptions against the Patriots put the Texans in a hole they couldn’t climb out of, and the season ended in eerily familiar fashion.
It wasn’t an isolated collapse, either. Stroud had shown signs of unraveling the week before in the Wild Card win over Pittsburgh, where he tossed two picks and coughed up five fumbles. Houston escaped that game, but the warning signs were there.
This is the same quarterback who took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2023, showing poise, precision, and a deep-ball touch that had Texans fans dreaming big. But in the two seasons since, the trajectory has flattened out.
He’s still immensely talented-there’s no doubt about that-but the consistency just hasn’t been there. And it’s not all on him.
Stroud has been operating behind a shaky offensive line and without a reliable ground game to take pressure off his shoulders. That’s a tough recipe for any quarterback, let alone one still finding his footing in the league.
When you’re constantly under duress and forced to make plays without balance, mistakes are going to pile up. And in the playoffs, those mistakes get magnified.
Still, there’s no quarterback controversy in Houston. Stroud will be back under center in 2026, and the organization remains committed to him as their franchise guy.
But the questions are growing louder. Can he recapture the magic of his rookie year?
Can he take care of the football when it matters most? Can he lead this team beyond the Divisional Round?
One person who isn’t doubting him is wide receiver Tank Dell. After missing the entire 2025 season due to injury, Dell is eager to reunite with Stroud and help reignite the offense. He didn’t hold back when asked about the criticism Stroud has faced.
“People can say what they want about 7,” Dell said, referencing Stroud’s jersey number. “They’re sitting on the couch typing on their computers and typing on their phones.
Everybody knows who 7 is, especially in the facility. We know who he is.
When we get back out there with him, it’s gonna be special.”
That kind of belief matters. Dell was one of Stroud’s favorite targets in 2024, and their connection was a big reason why the Texans’ offense looked so dynamic at times. Getting him back on the field could be exactly what Stroud needs to settle in and rediscover his rhythm.
The Texans aren’t far off. The defense is championship-caliber-fast, physical, and opportunistic.
DeMeco Ryans has built a unit that can hang with anyone. But to finally break through that Divisional Round ceiling, they need their quarterback to play like the guy who turned heads as a rookie.
The margin for error in the playoffs is razor-thin, and Houston has learned that the hard way.
Stroud has the tools. He has the locker room behind him. And with a full offseason to reset, refocus, and get healthy-both himself and his supporting cast-he’ll have a shot to remind the league just how good he can be.
The Texans believe their window is still wide open. But if they’re going to make a serious run in 2026, it starts with No. 7 getting back to form.