The Cincinnati Bengals had a thrilling 30-27 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, thanks in large part to the stellar performance of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud, who was making his first career start, threw for a career-high 311 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for a touchdown.
The Bengals got off to a strong start, scoring on their first two drives of the game. Stroud connected with wide receiver Tyler Boyd for a 25-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring, and then ran for a one-yard touchdown to give the Bengals a 14-0 lead. The Texans responded with a touchdown of their own, but the Bengals answered with another touchdown, this time on a five-yard pass from Stroud to tight end Cethan Carter.
The Texans fought back in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead. But Stroud and the Bengals weren’t done yet. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Stroud connected with wide receiver A.J. Green for a game-winning 39-yard touchdown pass.
Stroud’s performance was impressive, especially considering he was making his first career start. He showed poise in the pocket and made some big-time throws when his team needed it most. He also showed great mobility, running for a touchdown and picking up key first downs with his feet.
The Bengals’ victory was a huge one, as it kept them in the playoff hunt in the AFC North. With Stroud at the helm, the Bengals have a chance to make some noise in the postseason. His performance against the Texans was a great sign of things to come for the rookie quarterback and the Bengals organization.