C.J. Stroud

PFF's divisional-round Team of the Week is highlighted by Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley.

Stroud completed 19 of 28 passes for 245 yards without a touchdown or an interception in Saturday's 23-14 divisional-round loss to Kansas City. He added 42 rushing yards on six carries.

As was the case for most of the stretch run, Stroud was besieged and confused behind the Texans' battered line, taking a ridiculous eight sacks for a ruinous 58 yards. The reigning offensive rookie of the year, Stroud started slow this season and never really heated up. After posting a 7:3 TD:INT total across his first five starts, that ratio fell to 13:9 over his final 12 appearances. He never reached 300 yards after October 6, watching his rookie touchdown rate fall as his interception and sack percentages climbed. Shaky under pressure after handling the blitz well as a rookie, Stroud also struggled to hit big plays. Injuries to Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs played a part, but Stroud collapsed down field. After challenging for the league lead with 66 20-plus yard completions in 2023, Stroud saw that number fall to 42 in 2024. That was despite making two more starts. As was the case his rookie year, Stroud often felt held back by OC Bobby Slowik's play-calling, but it's difficult for an outsider to know just how much of that was a coordinator protecting his quarterback. All of this, of course, buries the lede that this is still a young QB who has now piloted at least one playoff victory each of his first two seasons. Stroud did not collapse as a sophomore. He just needs to rediscover his momentum heading into 2025.

A survivor of multiple hip-drop tackles, 28-year-old trade acquisition Mixon crossed the 1,000-yard rushing threshold for the fifth time despite missing Weeks 3-5 with an ankle injury. Somewhat surprisingly the engine of the Texans' offense all season, Mixon stacked up ridiculous workloads as slumping sophomore QB C.J. Stroud and OC Bobby Slowik tried to figure out what to do with each other. As always, Mixon was not efficient -- he averaged 4.1 yards per carry and was middle of the pack in rush yards over expected -- but he was tough and productive. He always got what was blocked. Guaranteed $4 million for 2025, Mixon will be back as the Texans' lead back, though they could look to upgrade Dameon Pierce in the No. 2 spot.

For the divisional round, we ll target a game that should generate more points than the market expects and identify a player who may have a surprisingly productive rushing day.