C.J. Stroud needed only one NFL season to lead the Houston Texans back to the playoffs.
The Texans clinched a berth in this year’s playoffs on Saturday night as Stroud, in his first primetime game as an NFL quarterback, completed 20 of 26 passing attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns to lead Houston to a 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
With both teams entering Week 18 with a 9-7 record, Saturday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium effectively served as a play-in game for both teams, as either team could have clinched a playoff berth with a win while either team would have been eliminated with a loss.