C.J. Stroud is coming into Texans Vs Browns on a high after being named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his Week 9 performance against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Stroud completed 21-of-35 passes for 384 yards and five touchdowns in Houston's 44-22 win, a showing that gave the Texans a needed offensive spark as they prepare for Week 10. It was the third time this season that he has thrown for at least 350 yards in a game, and it also marked the sixth time since the start of the 2023 season that he has won a Player of the Week honor.
The award adds to a stretch that has kept Houston in the conversation despite its record. The Texans entered Week 10 at 3-5, while the Cleveland Browns were 5-4. Houston has also won three straight road games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL, and has done it while scoring 104 points, or 30.3 points per game, over those three games.
What the recent history says
This is not the first time Stroud has put up big numbers in a game that mattered. In Week 9 of the 2023 season, he completed 30-of-42 passes for 470 yards and five touchdowns in Houston's 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 6 of the current season, showing that the league has already seen this level from him more than once.
The matchup also comes with some recent context between Houston and Cleveland. On Dec. 24, 2023, the Browns defeated the Texans 36-22 in the teams' last regular season meeting. This time, Houston arrives with a quarterback fresh off a five-touchdown game and a road run that has helped steady the season.
