Despite a historic playoff collapse and mounting pressure, keeping C.J. Stroud in the game built resilience for the Texans' future, even in defeat.
The snow was falling at Gillette Stadium, and so was the Houston Texans’ season. By halftime on Sunday, the atmosphere in the Texans' locker room must have felt as frigid as the Massachusetts air. C.J. Stroud, the face of Houston’s offensive resurgence, had just turned in the worst thirty minutes of his professional life. Giving up four interceptions, including a backbreaking pick-six to Marcus Jones, Stroud’s confidence took a major blow.
As the teams retreated for the break trailing 21-10, the "Davis Mills" whispers began to turn into a roar on social media. After all, Mills had gone 3-0 as a starter during the regular season while Stroud was in concussion protocol. He was the "safe" hand. But as painful as it was to watch Stroud struggle, DeMeco Ryans made the right call by keeping his franchise star in the game, even if the 28-16 final score suggests otherwise.
I know the fans wanted Mills to enter the game, but let me offer a perspective that is more impactful even with the loss that involves culture and team morale.
The Case for the "Safe" Play: Davis Mills
The argument for Mills wasn't just based on panic, it was based on the conditions.
- The Weather Factor: Stroud was clearly struggling with his grip and ball security in the sleet and snow. Mills, a veteran with a more conservative "check-down" style, might have mitigated the bleeding.
- The Momentum Vacuum: When a quarterback throws four picks in a half, the concerns regarding game performance are a viable conversation . A change of pace often provides a spark or, at the very least, forces the opposing defense to reset their scheme.
- The "Win Now" Mentality: In a win-or-go-home Divisional game, you play the hot hand, or in this case, the hand that isn't actively giving the ball to the other team.
Why Benching Stroud Would Have Been a Fatal Mistake
Despite the nightmare stats, benching C.J. Stroud would have cost the Texans more than just one playoff game, it might have cost them the next five years. As I stated previously, it becomes at matter of shattering morale and preserving team culture.
- Fragile Confidence: Stroud is the face of the franchise. Yanking him in the biggest game of the year sends a message that the coaching staff doesn't trust him to weather a storm. You don't build a champion by hiding him when things get ugly.
- The "Drake Maye" Parallel: Across the field, Drake Maye was having his own turnover circus, fumbling the ball four times. Mike Vrabel didn't flinch. He stayed with his guy, and Maye eventually rewarded him with a game-sealing touchdown to Kayshon Boutte.
- The Second-Half Reality: People forget that Stroud actually stabilized. He led a field goal drive to open the third quarter and had the Texans within one score (21-16) heading into the fourth. The meltdown was a first-half phenomenon, the loss was a team-wide failure in the closing minutes.
The Alternative Viewpoint
The 28-16 loss to the Patriots is going to sting all offseason. The Texans are now 0-7 all-time in the Divisional Round, a hex that seems impossible to break.
However, replacing Stroud with Davis Mills would have been a "band-aid" solution for a "broken bone" game. Stroud needed to feel the weight of those four interceptions. He needed to play through the snow and the boos. You don't learn how to win in Foxborough in January by watching from the sidelines with a parka on.
“No C.J. is our guy……..As I always tell our guys at halftime, it really doesn’t matter what happened in the first half. You have to flush it, remove it, and you just have to go out and finish the right way. We’ve been there before. We’ve been in situations much more dire than this, and we were able to bounce back. In my mind, there was no doubt in my mind that we would be able to overcome that.”
DeMeco Ryans chose the long-term health of his culture over a desperate gamble for a comeback. It didn't result in a win, but it ensured that when the Texans return to this stage in the 2026 season, there will be no question about who is leading the huddle.