description
For a banged-up offense looking to discover its footing, few remedies work quite like a short field. Using it advantageously after the Texans’ turnover-forcing defense left the endzone just 23 yards away, C.J. Stroud turned to his trustworthy veteran receiver on 3rd & 4, with an accurate pass — and a perfectly-run bench route — affording a lead. The New England Patriots eventually found the answers required to conquer Houston for a 28-16 finish on Jan. 18, 2026, but Stroud’s touchdown nonetheless served as a highwater mark during his 212-yard, one-touchdown performance.