JUST IN: NFL insider reveals Texans’ playoff hopes are cooked after scary injury update

It’s a difficult time to be a mediocre AFC team these days. Prior to Week 15, there were six teams in the conference with a 7-6 record vying for the final two wild card spots. Is there only one team on the outside looking in? The Texans of Houston.

The Texans were an exciting team to imagine playing postseason football against entering Week 14. DeMeco Ryan’s team appeared to be ahead of the rebuilding schedule after a demeaning run of losing seasons and one-and-done head coaches, led by It’s a difficult time to be on a mediocre AFC team these days, a rookie superstar quarterback who didn’t look like any other rookie we’d seen in a long time.

The Texans were then defeated by the New York Jets. Which is, indeed, a bad thing. Worse, Stroud was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after his head landed on the infamous MetLife Stadium turf. As of this writing, it’s difficult to say that Stroud is on track to play on Sunday. The worst thing Houston could do is rush Stroud back from a serious brain injury.

 

Unfortunately, Stroud’s injury means the Texans will not be able to play after the first week of January. Do we need to explain it to you? We’d be delighted.

In H-Town, offense is king.
The Texans’ offense is undeniably powerful, thanks to Stroud’s leadership. Do you still not believe it? Take a look at these splits: The Texans are 6-1 when they score 21 or more points this season.

20 points or less? The team has a record of 1–5.

Obviously, more points equals better (unless you’re Mike McCarthy.) However, that simple breakdown shows that the Texans aren’t winning low-scoring games.

The Texans have a top-10 offense and are the fourth-best passing team in the NFL. Their pass defense, on the other hand, ranks in the bottom ten. Winning track meets isn’t a bad strategy in the NFL, but doing so without your franchise quarterback is difficult.

If Stroud misses any time in the future, this offense will simply not be as effective as it has been. Houston’s playoff hopes are dashed by a defense that can contribute but not dominate.

Stroud improves people.
Nico Collins was a wide receiver for the Houston Texans for his first two seasons.

Collins is Exhibit A in the case that Stroud makes those around him better. The numbers are also born out in players who featured elsewhere last season (Dalton Schultz, Noah Brown) and have seen individual improvement with Stroud as their guy.

The Davis Mills Experience

The man who would replace Stroud in the event he misses time is Davis Mills. Mills started 26 games for the Texans across 2021 and 2022. The team posted a record of 5-20-1 in those contests. Mills threw for 300+ yards in six of those 28 starts.

In 13 starts as a rookie, Stroud has led the Texans to seven wins already, and he’s thrown for 300+ yards six times