XXL performance and winning drive for a benchmark evening for the Texan quarterback.
Houston Texans (4-4) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5): 39-37
If there was still any doubt, the Texans hit the jackpot with the recruitment of CJ Stroud in the last draft. In a match where the ground game was only decisive on short distances (for the finish), where Houston had to improvise without a kicker, the entire weight of the game fell on the shoulders of the quarterbacks. But where Stroud distributed the ball brilliantly to his receivers, Mayfield – without delivering a bad score – had great difficulty alerting his playmakers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Result, in a very close match which was decided in the last seconds, it was the rookie who made the difference. Stroud produced a maxi-format game with almost no false notes. 470 yards thrown with 5 touchdowns without any ball loss, three receivers over 110 yards, no doubt he is the star of the evening.
The more realistic Buccaneers
The game wastes no time getting started. From the first series Dalton Schultz (TE, 126 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble) loses the leather on contact and gives the ball to Tampa Bay which is magnificently placed to open the scoring on an easy field goal. Despite this first mess, CJ Stroud’s men (QB, 30/42, 470 yards, 5 TDs) went on the attack again and, based on intermediate plays, found the paint on a reception from Nico Collins (WR, 54 yards , 1 TD). Opposite, Baker Mayfield (QB, 20/29, 250 yards, 2 TDs) also manages to transform small passes into significant gains. Relying on an efficient Rachaad White (RB, 119 yards, 2 TDs), he ended up alerting Cade Otton (TE, 67 yards, 2 TDs) in the in-goal to regain the advantage.
And the Buccaneers hit the nail on the head at the opening of the second half. Starting from the middle of the field, they progressed smoothly until White crossed the line on a short run. The break is made, especially since Houston cannot produce better than a long distance field goal in reaction. The Texans suffer to advance: they alternate between gains, penalties and sacks, which quickly cuts their momentum. The two teams return to the locker room with a score of 10 to 17.
Houston at the end of the suspense
Returning to the field, Tampa Bay continues to widen its gap thanks to two kicks, but Houston is far from having given up. First Stroud touches Noah Brown (WR, 157 yards, 1 TD) long touch who escapes for a very long distance touchdown of 75 yards. Then it’s Tank Dell (WR, 114 yards, 2 TDs) who definitely puts the Texans back in the game by capturing a splendid 29-yard rainbow in the paint. The two teams find themselves back to back at the start of the last period.
The pressure even ended up changing sides at the start of the fourth quarter. This time it’s Schultz who is at the finish and who gives Houston the advantage. It’s time for the Buccaneers to respond. In attack, Mayfield finally found Mike Evans (WR, 87 yards) for 54 yards, before White crossed the line for the double. However, the Florida defense is cracking on all sides and struggling to contain the Texans. Stroud distributes leather and swallows yards by the dozen without difficulty. A field goal follows as the clock ticks down, the Floridians no longer have a choice if they want to have a chance.
A few seconds before the deadline, Mayfield forces his play and luck by relying on Trey Palmer (WR, 36 yards). A fumble covered by Evans puts the Buccaneers on the edge of the end zone for match point. And it’s Otton again who delivers his team and puts Tampa Bay back in front with a handful of seconds remaining on the clock. There is only one opportunity and less than a minute left in Houston. No problem for the star of the evening, since Stroud distributes to his playmakers to finally alert Dell in the goal in 6 actions. The winning touchdown, a benchmark victory for Houston and its young quarterback.
CJ STROUD TO NOAH BROWN 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #TBvsHOU on CBS
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