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If not for C.J. Stroud putting in one of the worst quarterbacking performances in NFL playoff history, the Houston Texans could well be preparing for the AFC Championship Game right now against the Denver Broncos.
They’d likely be favorites in that game as well, given the absence of Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix. However, Stroud completed just 42.6 percent of his passes for 212 yards, one touchdowns, and four interceptions to doom Houston’s season.
When facing the blitz, Stroud was somehow even worse, completing just 33.3 percent of his passes for 67 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions, which works out to -12.4 expected points added. The Texans lost by 12 points.
C.J. Stroud’s Horrific Performance Somehow Got Charlie Batch Slandered
Stroud’s performance was so bad that social media users began comparing him to countless journeymen quarterbacks in the NFL, including former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick Josh Freeman and longtime backup Charlie Batch.
While Batch saw the humor in the comparisons, he also wondered how the heck he got dragged into Stroud’s horrific showing.
How’d i catch a stray in this? Lol https://t.co/SHzkUlMRtT
— Charlie Batch (@CharlieBatch16) January 18, 2026
Batch, a second-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, spent four seasons as the starter for the Detroit Lions, going 19-27 in that span before being benched mid-way through the 2001 season.
However, he remained in the league until 2012 as a backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was generally regarded as one of the more reliable backups at the time.
Stroud has a long way to go until he’s officially in Batch territory. After all, this was just the third season of his NFL career. But after a standout rookie season, he’s looked brutal in the two years since, and Houston will have a major decision to make in the near future when it comes time to negotiate a potential contract extension.