2025 Divisional Round Weekend

[CSKreager]

To many, these four teams were considered the best in football.
Chicago bit themselves in the ass going for it six times on 4th down, leaving FGs off the board. It cost them the game. Johnson should have known frickin better from the 2023/24 NFC championship game. The 49ers werent even ready to play.

The Bills picked the worst time to get a bad game from Allen and still could have won it. It cost the HC his job. The defense for the Texans have to now wonder about a HC that stubbornly kept his shell-shocked QB in the game. Hopefully, Stroud forgets about it next training camp and bounces back, or Mills will get more support from the fans.

Peoole really think the easy schedule merchant Patriots are one of the best 4 teams? Next year they could easily regress ala the 2017 Jaguars

[JWL]

The Bills picked the worst time to get a bad game from Allen and still could have won it. It cost the HC his job. The defense for the Texans have to now wonder about a HC that stubbornly kept his shell-shocked QB in the game. Hopefully, Stroud forgets about it next training camp and bounces back, or Mills will get more support from the fans.

In real time I said to myself, texted to two friends, and whoever was reading on X (maybe four people) that you cannot pull Stroud to start the 2nd half unless you were then interested in trading him to the Jets, Dolphins, Steelers, or Cardinals this week.

Mills had what- a couple minutes of reps this week? Then he would be entering a game literally and figuratively cold down 11 points on the road.

Three of the INTs were Stroud's fault but one was an amazing play by the defensive back getting a knee in bounds. One interception was clearly the wide receiver's fault. The odds of Stroud pulling a Jim Hardy and throwing eight interceptions were low. Odds are he was going to have a better second half.

Benching the supposed franchise quarterback for a mediocre backup quarterback and that not working would be a disaster. it would have shown no confidence in your quarterback to dig out of a hole. Then Stroud almost did until Woody Marks fumbled. At that point, the air started going out of all the tires.
Anyway, if the Texans are souring on Stroud, several teams will listen to trade offers.

[Brian wolf]

Good points, JWL, but Stroud was lucky he didnt approach Hardy interception numbers by the 3rd Quarter. The Patriots dropped a number of possible interceptions. I was noting on this thread itself his inaccuracy before he threw his first interception.

Mills was 3-0 for them this year and could have handed the ball off in the 3rd quarter as well. Franchise QB or not, Stroud was frazzled and couldnt get his head back into it. Mills deserved a chance.

[Reaser]

Good points, JWL, but Stroud was lucky he didnt approach Hardy interception numbers by the 3rd Quarter. The Patriots dropped a number of possible interceptions. I was noting on this thread itself his inaccuracy before he threw his first interception.

Mills was 3-0 for them this year and could have handed the ball off in the 3rd quarter as well. Franchise QB or not, Stroud was frazzled and couldnt get his head back into it. Mills deserved a chance.

If Joe Montana can be benched in a divisional playoff game I don't think C.J. Stroud is off limits. Especially when he was almost picked again in the 3rd Quarter.

Obviously Mills isn't Steve Young and different circumstances but to that point they had similar results in their NFL careers and in the season in question.

[JWL]

Good points, JWL, but Stroud was lucky he didnt approach Hardy interception numbers by the 3rd Quarter. The Patriots dropped a number of possible interceptions. I was noting on this thread itself his inaccuracy before he threw his first interception.

Mills was 3-0 for them this year and could have handed the ball off in the 3rd quarter as well. Franchise QB or not, Stroud was frazzled and couldnt get his head back into it. Mills deserved a chance.

Maybe we will agree to disagree. I do not think Mills deserved a chance because he won some games two months ago with pedestrian play. I do not think Mills' presence was going to make the Texans run game emerge from the dead. I don't think there is any better result if Mills came into that game. Then there would be endless questions in the offseason.

I also do not know how any of us could glean Stroud's composure from TV. He is a poised player normally. He doesn't seem to lose his cool. Maybe what it could be is that maybe he is a guy who doesn't like a wet ball. I am not sure what quarterback would want to throw in rain or sleet but Stroud may be one who particularly hates it more than most. Arguably, Stroud's worst game before Sunday was the one he played vs the Jets in 2023. That game was played in dreary New Jersey rain.

[Brian wolf]

Aikman and Buck speculated that Stroud might have hurt his hand or finger but didnt get early attention from the medical staff.
You could see throws getting away from him but like you said, a wet ball.

I just watched a replay of the game and wont get into his passes but what really hurt the Texans were the fumbles caused by Hunter and Anderson that they should have recovered, but tried to pick up instead and failed. Those recoveries, especially the early fumble that Hunter forced could have been anywhere from possibly 3 to 14 points, that the offense could have scored from field position.

That Diggs TD catch was awesome as well as he snared the ball from two defenders.