The Houston Texans' free fall this season just hit a new low. Houston has struggled this season against playoff contenders, losing to teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. On Week 17, the Texans hit another speed bump after getting demolished by the Baltimore Ravens 31-2.
CJ Stroud had an abysmal game, completing 17 of his 31 passes for 185 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. In fact, the Texans did not get a single offensive scoring drive, with their only two points coming off of a safety.
Stroud took responsibility for the brutal loss, but he saw a silver lining in their defeat. The Texans quarterback said that this loss will make the team "wake up" for the playoffs.
"I'm sure a lot of people in their careers had this type of game before," Stroud said, per Nick Shook of NFL.com. "I'm not going to sit here and act like it's foreign, but it is necessary to wake you up. That's what it's going to do for me and this team."
Stroud and the Texans have a 9-7 record and have clinched the AFC South. However, things aren't looking as good as their record might suggest. The team will head into the playoffs without two of their top receivers in Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Aside from a win against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, the Texans are 0-4 against teams with a positive record.
This all raises some major red flags for the Texans moving forward. The good news is that they've already clinched a playoff spot and will make it in, no matter the results. That being said, they can't be too happy with how they've been playing.
Stroud and the Texans will have a chance to recollect themselves against the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
