While the Baltimore Ravens crushing the Texans in the second half for a 34-10 blowout made for a downer of an ending for the Texans’ season, if putting a grade on the season overall that grade has to be an A. After three seasons as a laughingstock organization the Texans regained credibility and then some, and should now be set up for a good-sized window of consistent quality. Only twice in franchise history have the Texans put together back-to-back seasons with 10 or more wins. It took a 17^th game to get to 10 this season, but it’s on the books. Only once have the Texans managed three consecutive winning seasons, 9-7 in all three of them under Bill O’Brien in 2014, ’15, and ’16.

Having C.J. Stroud at quarterback offers a ceiling higher than the Texans have ever had. Stroud at an average salary cap figure below 12 million dollars per season over the next three years is a huge boost to the Texans’ roster building opportunities. Stroud’s first season fits nicely among the best rookie campaigns QBs have posted. Stroud will rapidly elevate to Houston sports legend status if his sophomore season ranks among the best second acts. It will be hard to pull off, though it sure offers promise to see him try.

There is plenty of room for growth. The Wild Card round blowout of Cleveland was the only time in its last 10 games that the Texans’ offense put up 25 points. Among the challenges to making another leap are facing a first place schedule instead of a last place schedule, playing the NFC North as opposed to the NFC South, and having eight home games with nine road games as opposed to nine home/eight road this season.

As for Stroud specifically, here are five second season QB results that he will be hard-pressed to equal…

Dan Marino took over as the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback in week six of his rookie season in 1983. Marino was spectacular immediately. The Dolphins won nine of their last 10 games to win the AFC East before losing in their first playoff game. Still, no one could have projected what Marino’s second season would produce: merely the greatest season ever by a quarterback to that time. In 1984 Marino threw for a record-shattering 5,048 yards and 48 touchdown passes. Among the top 30 passing yardage seasons ever, only Marino’s occurred in the 20^th century. Before Marino’s 48 TD passes, the record was 36. The ’84 Dolphins went to Super Bowl XIX where the San Francisco 49ers added to their growing dynasty resume of the era with a 38-16 rout. Exactly no one believed that the then 23-year-old Marino would never again play in a Super Bowl. Oops.

The Indianapolis Colts were off a 3-13 season when they made the right call in selecting Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf with the first pick in the 1998 Draft. In 1999 the Colts proceeded to go…3-13, with Manning starting all 16 games and leading the world with 28 interceptions thrown. It got a lot better, quickly. In Manning’s second season the Colts had the greatest one season turnaround in NFL history, inverting their record to 13-3. The Colts would however lose their first playoff game, to the ex-Oilers who would wind up losing the Super Bowl that season.

Tom Brady threw three passes as a rookie in 2000. He was to be New England’s backup to Drew Bledsoe again in 2001, but then came the most transformative injury in NFL history. Bledsoe was knocked out by a vicious hit in the Patriots’ second game of the season. Brady took over, and in his second season the Patriots launched their dynasty by winning the “Tuck Rule” AFC Championship game over the Raiders and then as a 14-point underdog winning Super Bowl XXXVI over the St. Louis Rams.

Brady famously was the 199^th pick in his draft class. Russell Wilson went number 75 overall in the third round to Seattle in 2012 (18 picks after Brock Osweiler). Wilson had a fabulous rookie season leading the Seahawks to an 11-5 record plus a playoff win. His second season was even better: 13-3 and a 43-8 Super Bowl XLVIII demolition of Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Most recently, Joe Burrow’s rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals ended 10 games in with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. Burrow made it back to start his second season on time. 16 games, 4614 passing yards, and 34 touchdown passes later, Burrow led the Bengals to three playoff wins and Super Bowl LVI where they fell three points short versus the Rams.

C.J. Stroud is unlikely to ultimately rate on par historically with Manning and Brady. After all, that’s unlikely for every QB who comes along for all eternity. But Stroud had a vastly more successful rookie season than both. Only seven and a half months until we start seeing what Stroud has for his second act season.