Texans' Dalton Schultz offers interesting C.J. Stroud playoff take originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is likely at the lowest point of his NFL career this offseason after the team's horror playoff exit.
The loss to the New England Patriots was horrible, with Stroud throwing four first-half interceptions that paved the way for the loss.
As such, the pitchforks have been out for C.J. and rightly so, as the performance wasn't good.
But as tight end Dalton Schultz points out, Stroud's struggles against New England weren't all on him.
"Everybody's got to turn themselves," Schultz said on the Ross Tucker Football podcast. "It's not all on C.J. Do you think he throws some of those picks if he didn't have a guy in his lap? Everything is so entangled in football that it's hard to put anything on one guy ever."
More:Chiefs' Chris Jones rips ESPN analyst over Travis Kelce comments
Is Schultz right?
Of course he is. But here's the problem.
When you are the franchise quarterback, or a quarterback at all for that matter, you get all the praise when it goes right, even if you didn't have a big hand to play in the win. And then you get all the blame when things go south.
That's part and parcel of the position. Plus, it comes with the territory of being the face of the franchise.
Look, most know it wasn't all on Stroud, but four first-half interceptions are tough to get away from.
Some have said C.J. melted down, and there is some truth to that, as there are Schultz's comments.
Unfortunately, when it comes to how Stroud is viewed league-wide, it doesn't matter.
All that matters is that the Texans lost, and Stroud threw four interceptions.
More NFL news:
- Analyst offers Mike Evans reality that might soothe Buccaneers' worries
- Texans faced with uncomfortable C.J. Stroud decision
- Chiefs could pull off incredible free agency move for Patrick Mahomes
- Lions' 59-TD weapon tipped for career change in 2026
- ESPN urges change of scenery for Bills' Keon Coleman
- Patriots named as potential landing spot for $25 million sack monster
- 2 huge free agency decisions set to impact Bills' Josh Allen