C.J. Stroud, the Houston Texans’ quarterback, expressed deep disappointment following the team’s 26-23 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. Stroud took full responsibility for the Texans’ collapse, which saw them squander a significant 16-point lead at halftime. Despite the defense’s remarkable performance in forcing five interceptions from Lions quarterback Jared Goff, the Texans’ offense faltered during the second half.
This loss marked a historic moment, as the Texans became only the second team since 1933 to lose after recording five interceptions and holding at least a 15-point lead. The previous instance occurred in 1970 when the Chicago Bears fell to the Baltimore Colts despite a similar turnover advantage.
Stroud reflected on the missed opportunity, stating, “Definitely should have won this game. My job is to lead the offense to score points, and I didn’t do that today… We really should have put them away after the first half. It’s really on the offense.” The Texans have struggled in second halves this season, trailing their opponents by 59 points post-halftime, ranking them 31st in the league. In this game, they failed to score any points in the second half, which allowed the Lions to rally back.
In the first half, Stroud showcased his skill by throwing for 164 yards and a touchdown, contributing to the Texans’ 23 points. However, his performance dipped in the second half, where he managed just 68 yards, completing only 39% of his passes, and threw two interceptions.
Coach DeMeco Ryans expressed frustration over the team’s inability to capitalize on defensive turnovers, emphasizing the importance of scoring to secure victories. “I’m proud of the defense for going out to get five turnovers. I think that’s a big day for any defense… To beat a good football team like that, we have to be able to sustain drives,” Ryans noted.
As they move forward, Texans players are feeling the heat of their second-half struggles but are resolute in their belief in the team’s potential. Running back Joe Mixon stated, “We are not going nowhere. We know what team that we are, we know what we are capable of. We just have to finish.” Meanwhile, left tackle Laremy Tunsil acknowledged the need for improvement, stressing, “We all have to play better… We can’t take our foot off the pedal.”
Despite the setback, the Texans can draw hope from their strong defensive performance and the belief in their offensive capabilities. As they work to correct their second-half struggles, fans can remain optimistic about the team’s resilience and potential moving forward.
Overall, this loss serves as a learning experience for the young Texans team, whose growth and determination to improve could lead to better outcomes in future games.