The Houston Texans faced a challenging season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, suffering a 14-9 defeat that left players and coaches reflecting on their performance. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, who faced relentless pressure on nearly every play, called it a “good wake-up call.” Stroud’s assessment of the team’s performance highlighted both the struggles and the potential for improvement as they prepare for their next matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football.”
It was a tough day for Stroud. He was sacked three times, hit seven times, and pressured 41% of his dropbacks. That he stood up to adversity and showed amazing strength. Under fire, he still managed to finish 9 of 10 for 102 yards with a 109 passer rating. On scrambles, he accrued 30 yards, exemplifying his talent at eluding rushers and creating plays.
Stroud’s perfect day was marred by mistakes, including an interception thrown to his left while targeting receiver Tee Higgins. Naturally, he was disappointed in the team’s execution and remarked, “We didn’t deserve to win that game. We didn’t do the necessary things to win it.” His honest assessment echoes through the rest of the game’s story, in which a stagnant offense and poor communication would turn out to be fatal errors.
On the struggles piece, Stroud was aware that bringing four new bodies on the offensive line came with its challenges. It’s not that simple though, he noted, explaining the challenge of finding continuity among the big men up front while they all figure out their new positions. That seemed like a foregone conclusion when the Texans’ head coach, DeMeco Ryans, was all in on this notion. He spoke about how players need to make plays when it’s tough.
Our offensive line was our offensive line, Ryans said. We only had five guys we had up there that were playing. Injuries as always unfortunately plagued the week, so moving around will be necessary. That’s the NFL. Guys get injured, you have to shift guys in and out, and we swallow that complaint. You go into work, and you simply do your work.
While understandably disappointed with the result, Stroud expressed optimism for his fellow teammates and their ability to bounce back. He acknowledged that the loss served as an important reminder of the importance of preparation and focus in the NFL. When you come out in the NFL lolly gagging and going through the motions, that’ll sort of do it. “We’ll be all right,” he asserted.
As the Texans prepare for their most formidable challenge yet against the Buccaneers, Stroud’s faith in his teammates won’t be broken. He recognizes that significant work lies ahead but believes they can rise to the occasion under the bright lights of prime-time television.
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