The Texans got far from the outcome they were searching for on Saturday night, falling 34-10 in a disappointing showing to the Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner C.J. Stroud had plenty of hype heading into this matchup -- and rightfully so after he completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions during the season and 274 yards and three TDs in his playoff debut.
However, things didn't go quite as well in Baltimore against the vaunted Ravens' defense.
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Here's a breakdown of how the rookie fared in his second career playoff game.
C.J. Stroud stats today
There's no denying Stroud finished out the day with a stat line many were underwhelmed with, but that's not necessarily an illustration of how he performed, either.
Stroud completed 19 of his 33 pass attempts for 175 yards without a touchdown. It was his second-lowest yardage total in a full game this year and only the second time all season he was held out of the end zone through the air or on the ground.
Stroud made some decision-making errors, but for the better part of the matchup, he was solid despite being let down by his pass protection.
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This was one of Stroud's worst games as far as the stat sheet is concerned, as recorded his lowest QB rating (72.2) of the season. However, he avoided turnovers and sacks despite running for his life most of the game.
In comparison, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson recorded what is being called his best-ever playoff performance after completing 16-of-22 attempts for 152 yards with two touchdowns. Of course, Jackson also had 100 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground, but the passing numbers weren't significantly better despite Jackson having much more time in the pocket.
The Texans' offense failed to get much going, recording just 223 total yards, though that wasn't entirely Stroud's fault, as penalties repeatedly kept the offense behind the sticks and off schedule.
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One thing is certain: Stroud and the Texans are on the right track. They have made a complete 180-degree turn, and they should only improve moving forward after shaking up the NFL in an unexpected way in 2023. In all, Stroud deserves a lot of credit for how he performed in a hostile road environment against an elite defense, especially considering the obstacles he faced from his own team.