Growing up in California, C.J. Stroud had a short list of quarterbacks he looked up to as true masters of the art of throwing the football.
And Aaron Rodgers, in his prime years with the Green Bay Packers, was at the very top of the list alongside Matthew Stafford.
Now, the Texans’ third-year passer, a former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, gets to square off against one of his quarterback heroes in the NFL playoffs. Stroud leads the 12-5 Texans riding an NFL-high nine-game winning streak heading into a Monday night AFC wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers, with a 4-1 record against the Texans, 17 touchdowns, and just 1 interception, remains a formidable force. Last year, while quarterbacking the New York Jets, he defeated Houston with three touchdown passes. Now, facing the NFL’s top-ranked defense, Rodgers presents a major challenge in this high-stakes matchup.
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Stroud, 24, and Rodgers, 42; different stages of their NFL careers
“I’m a big fan of Aaron, I love what he does,” Stroud said. “He’s been a heck of a player. I think he’s a top-three quarterback to ever touch a football. He’s done some really cool things in the sport. His mechanics are through the roof. His ability to use his pronation on his wrist and how he flicks the ball is just dope.
“I’m a big fan of his. This will be my second time facing him. I’m a big fan of his. I’m not going to be rooting for him on Monday night, but I think he’s a heck of a player and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s done it for a long time and is even doing it at a high level at his age now. A lot of respect for him.”
Stroud, 24, and Rodgers, 42, are at entirely different stages of their NFL careers.
Stroud has rebounded from a tough start to the season, a 0-3 mark, and missing three games with a concussion, to lead the Texans to six wins in a row with him under center after backup Davis Mills went
3-0 when Stroud was sidelined.
Rodgers has had a career resurgence this season with the Steelers, galvanized by their tradition and a good relationship with veteran coach Mike Tomlin. Plus, imposing wide receiver DK Metcalf is back from serving a two-game suspension for his dust-up with a Detroit Lions fan.
“Aaron has had a ton of success in this league,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans
In a win-or-go-home rivalry game against the Baltimore Ravens, Rodgers passed for 294 yards and three touchdowns as he completed 31 of 47 passes to win the AFC North division title.
“Aaron has had a ton of success in this league,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker who’s the primary architect of a defense headlined by All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. and standout defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks to play this game. He’s that way for a reason. He’s a very smart guy and does a really good job of taking a couple plays to the line of scrimmage and trying to get them into the most advantageous play when he sees the defense and he sees what he’s facing and he sees a weakness of where he can get the ball out quick; that’s where he’s going to go with the football.
“For us, it’s not so much of a chess match. Defensively, we know he’s going to figure out what you’re doing, how you’re disguising, and all those things. It’s going to be about us collectively as a team, not just about Aaron Rodgers. It’s our defense versus their offense. They have a ton of playmakers who Aaron gets the ball to that do a really great job in space of making guys miss. We have to do a great job of tackling whoever gets the football.
Missed last week’s updates? Read more on Aaron’s thoughts here.
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