What's next for the Texans after the Chiefs ran roughshod over C.J. Stroud?
The 2024 Houston Texans fell short of expectations. Then they exceeded them.
Houston’s 10-7 record was as much a function of playing in a toothless AFC South as anything else. The Texans offense took a step backward after 2023’s emergence. C.J. Stroud backslid, a robust receiving corps was waylaid by injuries and the team had exactly one regular season win over a fellow playoff team (in Week 5 over the Buffalo Bills).
They matched that total in the Wild Card Round by solidly dispatching the Los Angeles Chargers, bullying Justin Herbert into more interceptions in one afternoon (four) than he threw all season (three). Houston acquitted itself well one week later against the defending two-time world champions, but ultimately lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-14.
The Texans’ place in the AFC South means they’ll remain in contention with an eye on the postseason pretty much no matter what. Let’s look at what they’ll work with in 2025 — and what needs to be fixed.