C.J. Stroud keeps showing he is the most exciting rookie quarterback in the NFL since … well, since Joe Burrow.
Stroud, a former Ohio State quarterback and the second-overall pick in this year’s draft by the Houston Texans, bested Burrow and ended a four-game win streak by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The 22-year-old threw for 356 yards and led a drive over the final 93 seconds that put kicker Matt Ammendola in range for a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time ran out, and Houston beat Cincinnati 30-27. Ammendola had just been signed on Tuesday because Ka’imi Fairbairn suffered a quadriceps injury a week earlier.
Stroud directed a winning drive in the last minute for the second straight week for the Texans (5-4), who pulled out a wild 39-37 win over Tampa Bay when the rookie put together a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final 40 seconds.
“The thing about C.J. is just the calmness in the chaos,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He doesn’t waver. He’s confident he’s going to make plays.”
That’s the kind of thing usually said about Burrow, the fourth-year quarterback who is known for his decision-making and late-game heroics.
Burrow also had a good day statistically — 347 yards passing and two touchdowns — but he threw back-to-back interceptions in the fourth quarter, one in the end zone, to kill the Bengals’ chances.
Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Stroud with 3:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, and two plays later, Joe Mixon rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to cut Houston’s lead to 27-24.
But another opportunity for Cincinnati fell short when Tyler Boyd couldn’t hold on to Burrow’s pass in the end zone on third-and-goal with 1:39 left, and the Bengals (5-4) had to settle for a field goal by Evan McPherson to tie the game instead of taking the lead.
“That was a tough loss,” Burrow said. “I thought we were going to pull it out. We didn’t make a play at the end of the day. It’s disappointing.”
Stroud moved the Texans 55 yards in six plays to set up the…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cj-stroud-leads-another-gamewinning-drive-texans-edge-bengals-3027-on-lastsecond-field-goal
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Publish date : 2023-11-13 01:20:07
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