In a challenging playoff debut, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans threw four interceptions during the first half of their divisional round game against the New England Patriots on January 14, 2024. This performance left the Texans trailing 21-10 at halftime, significantly hindering their chances of advancing in the postseason.
Stroud completed only 10 of 26 passes for 124 yards, along with one touchdown. Remarkably, three of his four interceptions came after he had given the Texans a brief lead with a touchdown pass, marking a drastic shift in momentum. His four interceptions tie him with eight other quarterbacks for the most thrown in a single playoff half since 2008, when former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme also struggled with four interceptions in a playoff game.
The first half of the game saw Stroud’s mistakes play a pivotal role. According to FOX Sports Research, this incident marks the second time since 1991 that a quarterback has thrown four interceptions in one playoff half, the last being Trevor Lawrence in January 2023 during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. In that match, Lawrence’s team, despite leading by 27-0, ultimately lost 31-30.
Stroud’s first interception was a pass that sailed over the head of wide receiver Christian Kirk, allowing Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis to make the catch. The second interception proved to be particularly costly. After the Texans’ defense forced a punt, Stroud was pressured by Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, leading to a pass that was easily intercepted by cornerback Marcus Jones, who ran it back for a 26-yard pick-six, giving New England a 14-10 lead.
Another interception occurred when Stroud targeted receiver Xavier Hutchinson, only for the pass to bounce off Hutchinson’s hands, landing in the possession of Patriots safety Craig Woodson. The fourth interception might have been the most regrettable; as the Texans approached the Patriots’ 48-yard line, Stroud attempted a pass intended for Hutchinson that ended up in Davis’s hands instead.
Despite these setbacks, the Texans opted to keep Stroud in the game for the second half. He managed to lead a field goal drive that narrowed the Patriots’ lead to 21-13, although this drive included moments of near disaster. One notable instance involved a close call when Hutchinson was initially ruled to have fumbled the ball, but replay determined he was down.
In a game marked by Stroud’s struggles, the Texans faced an uphill battle to recover from the early deficit. As they move forward, the performance of their young quarterback will be scrutinized, particularly as they aim for a brighter future in the NFL playoffs.
