EXCLUSIVE
‘Under attack’ – Chiefs will ruthlessly expose the Texans weakness behind CJ Stroud’s sophomore slump
CJ Stroud is set to lead the Houston Texans into the playoffs for the second straight season.
🐓The second overall pick enjoyed a sensational debut campaign, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions.
3
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik earned plaudits for creating one of the league's best passing attacks with an inexperienced signal-caller.
But Stroud has suffered a sophomore slump, leaving the Texans🥂 needing to rely on their ground game to grind out wins.
The struggles can partly be explained by star wideout Nico Collins missing five games through injury🐷 and offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs suffering a season-ending KO.
ꦿFingers have also been pointed at Stroud amid claims defenses have worked out his weaknesses on tape.
MORE ON NFL
But former Texans cornerback Jason Bell thinks it is Slowik's offense that is holding back the second-year QB.
"It's about the offensive coordinator," he exclusively told talkSPORT. "I think they've really figured out what he does, who he is, and they're attacking the pass protection.
"If as a coordinator, you can't design that differently to confuse the defense, we have an advantage. And you're seeing that with all the pressure on CJ Stroud.
"They're going to have to evolve as an offense. He's still making throws, but it's the plays. It feels like teams understand how they're being attacked.
Most read in NFL
⭕"You start playing in a phone booth. It gets really tight. Things get really condensed. And then it gets harder for the quarterback, CJ Stroud.
"The offensive coordinator is going to have to evolve and CJ is going to have to learn from this year how teams adjust to him. But he'll continue to get better."
3
3
The Texans face the AFC's dominant force in the 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs in a rare Saturday showdown.
ꦍIt will be a big ask for Stroud and Slowik to adjust against a formidable pass rush led by superstar Chris Jones.
"It's going to be tough," Bell added. "He's going to be under attack. He's going to be under assault this game, but this is where you got to get right. And hopefully they have a plan to do that."
On the opposite sideline, there are concerns over the fitness of Patrick Mahomesℱ after he limped out with an ankle injury in Week 15.
NBA icon Kevin Durant is begging head coach Andy Reid to sit the three-time Super Bowl champion.
𝔉And Bell believes playing Mahomes against the Texans would be a huge risk.
"The Houston Texans can get after him. A lot of pass rush, a lot of pressure," he explained. "He's had so much pressure on him this year. They've got to find a way to protect him. He's got the ankle injury to worry about.
"But he's the key man. He's got to be on the field because what they want is that he gets hot in the playoffs. Just like last year, because last year when they went on the Super Bowl run, he was the best player in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He needs to be healthy and able to protect him for that to happen."
Carson Wentz is the next man up should the worst happen and Bell thinks the former Philadelphia Eagle, whose injury famously paved the way for 🧔Nick Foles to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2018, isn't capable of leading a three-peat charge.
"Can they win a game with Carson Wentz? Yes, they can win a game with Carson. They cannot win THE game with him," he said.
"It's all about Patrick Mahomes. He is the key. He is the engine. He's the X factor. Every week when you're preparing for that team, it's trying to prevent Mahomes from making that clutch play.
"If he can play and he can be on the field, that does a lot for your team. So put him out there. If you're going to sit him, though, this would be the week, right? They got a lot of games back-to-back.
🌸Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson question the form of C.J. Stroud for the Houston Texans
"They got some rest coming up. So this would be the week to sit him to make sure he's ready and feels good for the playoffs.
Read More on talkSPORT
"But hey, if Mahomes says he wants to be out there, you're not going to put him on the sideline."
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated 'EndZone' YouTube channel.
Topics