C.J. Stroud has finally beaten Jim Harbaugh.
After going 0-2 vs. Harbaugh’s Wolverines as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Stroud got his revenge in his first NFL matchup with the former Michigan coach, leading the Houston Texans to a 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers to kick off the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
Stroud had one of his best games of the entire season to earn his second playoff victory in two NFL seasons, completing 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards with one touchdown and one interception while also running for 42 yards.
The former Ohio State quarterback was at his best at the end of the first half. First, Stroud led a 99-yard touchdown drive that included a 34-yard completion to Xavier Hutchinson on a broken play, a 37-yard connection over the middle with Nico Collins and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Collins.
UNREALLLL THROW FROM CJ7
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 11, 2025
: @Nickelodeon and @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/PLl8uTifWK
NICO COLLINS ALERT pic.twitter.com/ruEPMyFFwx
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 11, 2025
C.J. TO NICO
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 11, 2025
TEXANS TAKE THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/AoQryOL28N
After the Texans got the ball back for another possession before halftime, Stroud got the Texans in position for a field goal by running for a 27-yard gain, the longest run of his NFL career to date.
STROUD WITH THE WHEELS
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 11, 2025
27 yards = the longest rush of his CAREER pic.twitter.com/O0P2D4KiQn
With the win, Stroud and the Texans advance to next weekend’s divisional round of the AFC playoffs. Depending on who wins the other two AFC Wild Card games, the Texans could play any of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens on the road or host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round.
