How Unhealthy Was C.J. Stroud in First Half of Texans-Patriots Divisional Spherical Recreation?

[ad_1] C.J. Stroud had a half he'd wish to overlook within the first half-hour of the Houston Texans' 28-16 divisional spherical loss towards the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The third-year quarterback threw a whopping 4 interceptions within the first half of Sunday's recreation, finishing 10 of 26 passes for 124 yards and a landing. The interceptions helped put the Texans in a 21-10 gap on the break, with three of his 4 interceptions occurring after he threw a landing cross to provide Houston a 10-7 lead within the second quarter.

Stroud's 4 interceptions within the first half alone are tied with eight different quarterbacks for essentially the most thrown in a playoff recreation since former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme threw 5 in a playoff recreation in 2008. Three of Delhomme's interceptions in that recreation got here within the second half, because the Panthers fell to the Arizona Cardinals, 33-13, within the divisional spherical.

Based on FOX Sports activities Analysis, that is the second time since 1991 {that a} quarterback has thrown 4 interceptions in a single playoff half. The final time was Trevor Lawrence again in January 2023. The Chargers had been up 27-0 late within the first half of that recreation however infamously misplaced 31-30.

Stroud was additionally the one quarterback with four-plus interceptions and 15-plus incompletions in a primary half (common season or playoffs) up to now 35 seasons, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. Stroud's turnover-prone efficiency on Sunday got here every week after he threw an interception and had 5 fumbles (two misplaced) within the Texans' wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stroud is the primary quarterback to have 5 fumbles and 5 interceptions in a postseason since no less than 1991.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans opted to not bench Stroud for the second half, telling reporters that the crew did not think about placing Davis Mills in at quarterback.

"C.J.’s our man," Ryans stated. "I believed that he may come again out within the second half and flip it. I believed he may play higher and he did that within the second half. He did play higher. We had some optimistic drives there within the second half. I consider he could be that and he did that. As I at all times inform our guys at halftime, it actually would not matter what occurred within the first half. You must flush it, take away it and exit and end the suitable manner."

Stroud did not throw an interception within the second half, ending the day 20 of 47 for 212 yards, one landing and 4 interceptions with a 28 passer ranking. However the Texans nonetheless dedicated a key turnover within the closing half-hour. With 5:21 left within the third quarter, working again Woody Marks fumbled for the Texans’ fifth turnover and the eighth complete turnover of the sport. The fumble got here because the Texans had been in a position to drive to the Patriots' 17-yard line whereas trailing, 21-13.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye did not have a reasonably day, both. He misplaced two of his 4 fumbles and threw an interception, which got here on a Hail Mary try on the finish of the primary half. Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was chargeable for two of these pressured fumbles as he completed the day with three sacks. Anderson joined Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh as the one two gamers to log no less than three sacks and two pressured fumbles in a playoff recreation since 2000, per FOX Sports activities Analysis. Oweh did that within the Chargers' loss to the Patriots final week.

Brett Favre nonetheless holds the file for essentially the most interceptions thrown by a quarterback in an NFL playoff recreation. He threw six interceptions within the Inexperienced Bay Packers' 45-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams within the divisional spherical of the 2001 season. Favre threw three interceptions in every half, and three of his six interceptions had been returned for touchdowns.

Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis had two of these interceptions, getting the primary on a cross Stroud sailed over the top of extensive receiver Christian Kirk. However essentially the most noteworthy of the 4 interceptions was the second choose Stroud threw. On the play after the Texans' protection pressured a punt, Stroud threw an errant cross as he was getting hit by Patriots edge rusher Ok'Lavon Chaisson. That allowed Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones to simply catch a floating ball, and he took it the opposite manner for a 26-yard pick-six to provide New England a 14-10 lead.

Stroud's third interception was on a cross to receiver Xavier Hutchinson, during which the Texans' extensive receiver let the ball bounce off his arms earlier than touchdown within the arms of Patriot security Craig Woodson.

The fourth interception Stroud threw may need been the worst. Because the Texans had been in a position to get to the Patriots' 48-yard line on the two-minute warning, Stroud threw a cross within the flats meant for Hutchinson that wound up within the arms of Davis as an alternative.

Stroud was in a position to lead the Texans to a discipline aim drive within the first possession of the second half that minimize the Patriots' result in 21-13, however it did not come and not using a pair of shut calls. On one reception by Hutchinson, it was initially dominated that he fumbled the ball and the Patriots recovered. Nevertheless, an expedited replay dominated that Hutchinson was down.

Later within the drive, Stroud practically threw his fifth choose of the day when he rolled out on a third-and-2 and threw in Kirk's route. Jones obtained his arms on the ball, with it bouncing off his fingertips earlier than falling incomplete.

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