The Houston Texans are undeniably the NFL’s most disappointing team to kick off the season. Sitting at a brutal 0-3, they’ve stumbled in games they absolutely should have won, and it’s got everyone pointing fingers. This isn’t just a bad start, it’s a pattern, and it’s raising serious questions about their franchise quarterback.
0-3 Is Tough, But Losing Winnable Games? That’s Worse.
You gotta look at those early losses. Their season opener against the Buffalo Bills? That was a game they *should* have won, but the defense couldn’t seal it with a game-ending interception. Sound familiar? It happened again against the Indianapolis Colts, a team that might be better than folks thought, but still. The Texans have dealt with this kind of frustrating performance for the past couple of seasons, and honestly, fans have every right to be fed up with the results.
C.J. Stroud’s Big Problem: The “$50 Million” Question
All this puts C.J. Stroud squarely under the microscope. This guy was once so highly touted, but now everyone’s asking: What kind of player is he, really? It’s tough to evaluate, because he’s shown flashes, right? He had that 274-yard, two-touchdown game, plus a massive 353-yard showing against Cincinnati. But for the better part of three seasons now, he’s just been, well, average. That’s a huge issue, especially when you consider what’s coming. Dan Orlovsky didn’t pull any punches, saying, “C.J. Stroud. C.J.’s played better than the results kind of warrant. Yeah, yeah. You can’t go 0-4 asking for $50-plus million. You just can’t. Whether we like it or not, fair or not fair. He bet on himself this season. Fair or not fair. You can’t go 0-4 and then have the contract loom over the top.” Orlovsky nails it. Teams aren’t going to hand out $50 million-plus if you’re not getting wins at a high level. That’s just how the game works.
But here’s the kicker: even if the Texans aren’t ready to give Stroud a “decent deal,” there are plenty of quarterback-hungry teams out there who probably would. This whole situation is going to be decided over the next couple of months. A lot can change, but Stroud and the Texans are on a clock, and it’s ticking fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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