Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley insists C.J. Stroud shouldn’t be defined by Houston’s divisional-round collapse in New England, pointing instead to the progress Stroud and the offense showed across last season’s regular slate.
C.J. Stroud’s season didn’t end the way Houston wanted.
In the Texans’ divisional-round loss at New England, Stroud threw four interceptions. For a franchise trying to move beyond where it’s been stuck, that kind of swing can linger—especially when the same quarterback has already reached the divisional round in all three of his seasons as the starter.
Nick Caley, the Texans offensive coordinator, doesn’t want that one playoff game to become the story of what comes next.
“There was a lot of progress that C.J. and the offense made last year,” Caley told the Houston Chronicle. “We continued to get better from the start of the season to the end of the regular season and just continued to make progress from week to week. So we’re going to continue to build on that. It’s a new year. C.J. has done a great job out here. Looks good. Locked in.”.
Caley said his confidence isn’t only about Stroud—it’s about how they’ve carried momentum through the offseason. Now in his second year in a key role—after last season was his first as offensive coordinator—Caley believes both the quarterback and the offense have continued to grow.
“All these reps are invaluable not just for the players but for the coaches too,” he said. “Starting with me. I’ve had a good spring. continuing to get better. continuing to stay hungry and keep rolling and growing through training camp. For me. it’s no different than what we tell the players — it’s just continuing to work at it and being honest with yourself along the way.”.
The Texans have clear intent: they’re back in the playoffs’ second week already in Stroud’s three seasons as their starter, but they want to take the next step. Caley believes this is the year that jump can finally happen.
“It’s a new year,” Caley said, framing the moment as a reset after the disappointment. And while Houston wants better results on the biggest stages. his message is direct—Stroud’s playoff mishap shouldn’t erase the work he and the offense put in across the regular season. Caley thinks the quarterback is ready to move the next chapter forward.
MISRYOUM Sports News Houston Texans C.J. Stroud Nick Caley New England divisional round interceptions NFL playoffs training camp offensive coordinator
4 interceptions is kinda the story though.
He says “locked in” like that fixes what happened at New England. I don’t trust playoff stats when it’s always “progress” during the regular season.
I mean they made it to the divisional round 3 years in a row so obviously that’s good? But those picks at the end are like… the whole thing got flipped. Coaching should’ve adjusted, not just hype him up after.
Nick Caley saying it’s a “new year” is what coaches always say right before they do the same stuff again lol. Also isn’t it funny how the headline focuses on Stroud but I’m like… weren’t the WRs dropping stuff too? If he’s “hungry” then why did he throw 4 picks, seems related to the offense “progress” somehow.