How a rookie duo rewrote the NFL record books in a single season
In short: Entering 2023, the Houston Texans were a franchise in flux, facing their fourth head coach in five years. What followed was a historic transformation, as a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach led the team to an unexpected division title and a dominant playoff victory.
The 2023 Houston Texans season began under a cloud of rebuilding expectations. After firing Lovie Smith on January 8, the team hired former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans on January 31. The roster was anchored by two high-profile rookies: quarterback C.J. Stroud, selected second overall from Ohio State, and defensive end Will Anderson Jr., taken third overall following a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Only four pairs of teammates in NFL history have ever secured both the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year honours.
The campaign's progress lacked any predictable pattern. After a sluggish 0–2 start, the team found its rhythm, highlighted by a Week 9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game, Stroud set a new NFL rookie record for passing yards in a single game with 470, surpassing the previous mark held by Andrew Luck. The Texans' resurgence culminated in Week 18 with a win over the Indianapolis Colts, securing a 10–7 regular-season record and their first AFC South title since 2019.
The postseason brought both triumph and heartbreak. In the Wild Card round, the Texans delivered a 45–14 blowout of the Cleveland Browns, their first playoff win since 2019. However, the journey ended in the Divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite a competitive start, Houston was outscored 24–0 in the second half, losing 34–10. The loss extended the franchise's road playoff record to 0–5 and left them without their first AFC Championship appearance.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2023 Houston Texans season
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