A quick comparison of his stats shows that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a down year in 2024. In addition to having a lower completion percentage (63.9 to 63.2 percent), he also had fewer passing yards (4,108 to 3,727) and touchdowns (23 to 20). His completion may have increased (319 to 336), but his interceptions worsened (five to 12).
While those numbers could lead fans and experts to assume that Stroud suffered the dreaded sophomore slump, Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning gave a different perspective on the former Ohio State standout’s situation and achievements.
The five-time NFL Most Valuable Player said to the crowd during the recent Fanatics Fest, “Everybody wants to judge right away. Great rookie year, his second year, he went to the playoffs in his second year. He’s 22. Let’s be careful saying it was a down year. I didn’t win a playoff game until my sixth year. He’s two for two, that’s all he’s trying to do, get the Texans a chance.”
Despite his perceived struggles, C.J. Stroud and the Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round 32-12. However, they fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round the following week. These results finalized Houston’s 2024 record to 11-8.
The year before, the Texans dominated the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card before receiving the other end of a beatdown from the Baltimore Ravens.
Time for C.J. Stroud to Unleash His Counter Punch
Stroud’s impressive rookie season gave opponents more opportunities to scout his tendencies and apply defensive adjustments.
As Peyton Manning added, “What does that do? That gives defenses more film to look at to know what they have to try to do to stop him in his second year, right? In your rookie year, they don’t know what you’re going to do.”
However, C.J. Stroud can prove that his initial success is no fluke by responding to what the defense is giving him. Manning said, “But guess who gets to figure out what defenses are doing? C.J. does by watching film. He goes, ‘Oh, this is what they are trying to do to me? Watch me counter this with this type of play.”
Finding that edge will help Stroud and the Texans get past the Divisional Round. To solidify his place among the league’s top quarterbacks, he cannot afford to have Houston barely reaching double-digits, as they did against the Ravens and the Chiefs.
Manning Believes in Stroud’s Support Group
Young quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud can benefit more from having an offensive-minded head coach. However, he’s doing well even if DeMeco Ryans is a defensive specialist because the former player demands nothing but the best.
“With DeMeco leading the charge, there’s gonna be tremendous accountability and talent and leadership every single year,” Peyton Manning added. Ryans, a former linebacker who played in ten NFL seasons, knows what excellence looks like because he is a two-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro.
“He went to the playoffs in his 2nd year. He was 22. Let’s be careful saying it was a down year. I didn’t win a playoff game ‘til my SIXTH year. He’s 2 for 2.”
Having a new offensive coordinator should give Stroud the benefit of having some mystery behind their scheme. Likewise, it’s an important year for the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year because he will be eligible for a contract extension after the 2025 NFL season.
Peyton Manning Defends C.J. Stroud on the Perceived Sophomore Slump