Texans end Bengals’ win streak with CJ Stroud’s game-winning drive

Is It Time To Call CJ Stroud The New “One?” | Pat McAfee Reacts

The Cincinnati Bengals’ four-game winning streak ended with a 27-30 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. The spotlight was on Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who outperformed his Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow.

Stroud, the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, made history as the highest-drafted quarterback from the Ohio Buckeyes. Art Schlichter previously held the spot as the No. 4 pick for the Baltimore Colts in 1982.

The Californian native passed for 356 yards with a drive in the game’s final 93 seconds. This allowed Texans placekicker Matt Ammendola to make a game-winning 38-yard field goal.

The Bengals had the opportunity to turn things around when cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Stroud with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Running back Joe Mixon scored a one-yard touchdown two plays later.

Despite the chance for Burrow to outperform Stroud, it slipped away when Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd failed to secure Burrow’s pass during a crucial third-and-goal.

“I took a lot of big hits in this game, but my O-line, they fought their tails off,” Stroud said. “I think that’s where we won the game, our O-line.”

Pre-Texans career

Before onboarding with Houston, many had expected Stroud to become the first overall pick after his performance during Ohio State’s 2023 pro day and the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

However, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young earned the pick instead of Stroud. Suspicions arose when a report claimed Stroud’s cognitive and processing test results were subpar. Despite these speculations, Stroud’s on-field performance remained unaffected, with coaches and teammates praising him as a “ball-placement specialist.”

“That’s probably the best thing about C.J.,” OSU receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said after OSU’s pro day.

“You can ask any receiver. They love playing with C.J. because the ball is always perfect. It comes in nice and soft, but he still has the velocity he needs to fit into a tight window.”

Stroud kicked off his rookie football career with Rancho Cucamonga High School. He committed to Ohio State in 2020 and became a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 and 2022.