Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans Preview: Welcome Back, C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans will host the Tennessee Titans in a game with rampant playoff implications. They'll need rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud to return with a bang.

Prospects don’t get drafted off of one game, but the Houston Texans will hope rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud can replicate his performance from last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal against the George Bulldogs.

Stroud and the Ohio State Buckeyes lost, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better individual performance from the young quarterback’s career, especially given the circumstances.

Stroud has exceeded every expectation for his rookie season, throwing for 279.3 yards per game with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s looked incredible in close games and, now, will be asked to look good in the biggest game of his NFL career. Houston hosts the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, in a game that could end its season.

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He’ll be returning from a concussion, of which he was cleared mid-week, that held him out of two games. Houston beat the Titans 19-16 in Week 15 but were gashed by the Cleveland Browns 36-22 in Week 16. The offense lost its way and the defense was nowhere to be found – allowing receiver Amari Cooper to set the Browns single-game record for receiving yards (265).

Stroud will be expected to be his typical self, if not elevated by the ramifications of the contest. If the Texans win out, beating the Titans and Indianapolis Colts, they’re in. Anything less makes 2023 a moral victory with little to show for it.

When these two teams faced off a couple of weeks ago, Tennessee running back Derrick Henry was stifled by Houston’s front, rushing 16 times for just nine yards. The Texans can’t count on that happening again. It’ll be a critical trench battle to keep him out of the end zone as he’s done so many times to this Texans team.

Can Short-Handed Texans Replicate Success vs. Derrick Henry?

Against a leaky secondary, the onus will be on Stroud to return with the theatrics that have underlined so much of his rookie season. One more stellar performance can keep Houston alive, even if just for one more week.

WHAT: Houston Texans (8-7) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-10)

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (72,220)

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m. (CT)

TELEVISION: FOX

RADIO: SportRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans -5.5 (-110), Moneyline: -250, Total: 43.5 (o -110/u -110)