CJ STROUD ROOKIE MVP? YES. BUT LEAGUE MVP? POSSIBLY YES.

Sat, Nov 25, 2023
by SetTheNarrative.cappertek.com

In a surprising turn of events, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud is making waves as a potential MVP candidate, defying expectations and leading the Houston Texans to victories against formidable opponents. Let's delve into the numbers to understand the remarkable journey of the Texans' season.

The Texans faced early challenges, losing two out of three games they were predicted to win. In Week 2, they clashed with the Colts, and despite a slim predicted victory of Colts 22 - 23 Texans, Houston fell short, succumbing to a 31 - 20 defeat. The defense struggled, allowing the Colts to surpass expectations by 9 points, while Stroud missed his scoring projections by 3 points.

Week 5 saw the Texans facing the Falcons, expected to win by half a point (Houston 21.5 - 21 Falcons). However, they fell short, losing 19 - 21. Despite a defense that held up, Stroud's performance was 2.5 points below expectations. In total, Stroud fell short by 5.5 points in these losses, with the defense allowing 9 points over expectations.

On the flip side, the Texans defied odds in five games where they were slated to lose. Notable victories included Week 3 against the Jaguars, where the predicted score favored the Jaguars 20 - 16 Texans, but the Texans dominated with a final score of Jaguars 17 - 37 Texans. The defense held the Jaguars 3 points below expectations, and Stroud led the offense to score 21 points over predictions.

Week 4 against the Steelers and Week 6 against the Saints followed a similar pattern, with the Texans outperforming predictions and Stroud showcasing his prowess. The Buccaneers and Bengals matchups in Weeks 9 and 10 resulted in unexpected wins for the Texans, contributing to a total of 65 points scored over expectations in these five games.

The lone victory in a predicted win came in Week 11 against the Cardinals, where the Texans were expected to win 22.5 - 19. However, the final score of Cardinals 16 - 21 Texans showed a defense holding strong and an offense meeting expectations.

It's evident that the Texans face challenges when favored, but Stroud's exceptional performances against strong opponents make him a standout MVP candidate. With coaching playing a pivotal role, the rookie quarterback's essential contribution to the formula cannot be overlooked. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans, eager to see if they can continue to defy the odds.