Carolina Panthers Bryce Young. CJ Stroud
'Let’s Run the Table' CJ Stroud Sends Texans Bold 13-4 Message After Game 1
The Houston Texans have every reason to be frustrated after four weeks. They are 0-4, and Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys was another game that slipped away late. Yet inside the locker room, the Texans quarterback, C.J. Stroud, is refusing to let the record decide what this season can become.
The Texans have been competitive in each of their losses; however, that has not translated into a win. After another painful finish Sunday, Stroud made sure his teammates heard his message before they left the locker room.
C.J. Stroud Keeps Houston Texans Believing At 0-4
Houston Texans Turn to Former Starter After C.J. Stroud
Houston Texans Turn to Former Starter After C.J. Stroud (Image Via Instagram/@cj7stroud)
Stroud told the Texans that they can still turn their season around and finish with a 13-4 record, according to tight end Brevin Jordan, who shared the quarterback’s postgame message with reporters.
“firmly believing we can run the table & go 13-4” and shared CJ Stroud talked to the team after the game about that:
“CJ’s a dog bro. His mentality, how he shows up to work everyday, it’s actually impressive. His message after the game was straight ho we can go 13-4. Like why not. Who cares what people say, think. Let’s run the table.”
Brevin Jordan says we “firmly believing we can run the table & go 13-4” and shared CJ Stroud talked to the team after the game about that:
“CJ’s a dog bro. His mentality, how he shows up to work everyday, it’s actually impressive. His message after the game was straight ho we… pic.twitter.com/XYuTZpW5Mu
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) October 6, 2026
That belief came immediately after the Texans’ 34-30 loss to the Cowboys. The Texans led 30-27 with just over two minutes remaining, however, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys drove 74 yards before Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for the go-ahead touchdown with 40 seconds left.
Stroud still played one of his best games of the season. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. His 11.2 yards per attempt was also a career high.
Stroud acknowledged after the game that the Texans have to start finishing. They have held a fourth-quarter lead in three of its four losses, yet the team has been unable to close the door.
Stroud delivered a similar message when speaking with the media. He said he wanted his teammates to understand how much he believes in them, even with the Texans sitting at 0-4. Houston has escaped slow starts before. The Texans began 0-2 in 2023 and still reached the playoffs, while the 2025 team started 0-3 before also making the postseason. However, this time, the hole is deeper.
Only one team has ever made the playoffs after starting 0-4. That history makes Stroud’s 13-4 goal sound extremely ambitious; however, the quarterback is not asking his teammates to worry about what has already happened. He wants them focused on the next opportunity.
“We’re all we got. Nobody is coming to save us, so we have to make sure we’re looking ourselves in the eye, being accountable and honest and going to work.” (Via Texans Wire)
For a team that has repeatedly found itself on the wrong side of close finishes, Stroud’s message is simple: forget the record, fix the details, and start winning.