Irrefutable evidence reveals CJ Stroud’s historic legacy among all-time rookie QBs
UNCHARTED WATERS
19 January 2024
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans are preparing for a huge divisional round playoff matchup with the Baltimore Ravens that takes place this weekend.
Stroud already has one playoff win under his belt, and not many rookie quarterbacks can say the same.
With that in mind, can we make the case that Stroud's rookie season is the best among quarterback's in NFL history?
After digging through the numbers and comparing several standout seasons, we believe Stroud's is in fact the best. So what's the criteria we used to measure these rookie performances?
We factored in the team record, passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and playoff wins among other things. Plus, we gave extra credit to QBs that started the first game of their rookie season.
We compared Stroud's historic season up against Dan Marino's, Andrew Luck's, Ben Roethlisberger's, Robert Griffin III's, and numerous others. When blending total yards, TD/Int ratio, total TDs, and playoff success, we believe Stroud comes out on top.
While all these QBs listed above were terrific, they each had a flaw that gave Stroud the edge in our opinion. For instance, Marino only started 9 regular season games. Luck and RGIII didn't win a playoff game. Roethlisberger wasn't even in the ballpark in regard to TDs and passing yards. He was basically a very good game manager that season.
What does the future hold?
With OC Bobby Slowik possibly leaving after the season to take a head coaching job, we took a peek at these quarterback's second-year numbers to see if we should expect regression in year 2.
Be sure to watch the video as we reveal what the Texans should expect from Stroud in his sophomore season, and much more!
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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