Texans 23, Jaguars 20
Q. For you guys to put together three scoring drives in the second half...
CJ STROUD: Yeah. First and foremost, thankful to God for this opportunity. Thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this game to play and be out there and come out healthy. Feel intact and my body feels good, so very grateful for that.
Those two scoring drives were big. Put some really good driving together in the first half; just couldn't finish it. You know, that's something we got to look back and get better at, just scoring when we got these good drives. We get a turnover by the defense, we got to be able to generate 7, not 3.
Ultimately I thought we handled everything well. They switched up a lot of things they were doing on film. Did a lot of different coverages and different looks. Ran a little bit of man coverage and stuff. But I thought we handled it really well.
Q. What has Joe meant to you in this offense?
CJ STROUD: Means a lot to me, man. Not only just in this offense, but as a brother, somebody who has been there before, been around a great elite quarterback. Knows what it looks like. He's always telling me like, bro, you got it. Just continue to just be you.
For me, it's been great to have that, because at times you can be in your own head or whatever. He's always there to pick me back up. And a lot of the guys, too.
Q. CJ you guys started practice earlier; this week it's late bye; then three games in ten days.
CJ STROUD: Yeah.
Q. How much is the timing of this before this tough stretch, how necessary is it?
CJ STROUD: It's very necessary. I thought the way we've handled these last couple weeks has been long. You know, to go -- this has been grind. Getting to week 14 and getting bye, we're not fiending for a bye, but we are also very grateful it comes now.
And then we got three games in ten days or something crazy like that.
This is like perfect timing. It's been tough, been a long year. First team to practice, got four pre-season games, and then we go on and get the latest bye and then go from there and get three games in ten days.
Ultimately the league is trying to challenge us to see what type of team we are. I think this is perfect for us. We can recoup our spirit, body, mind, and come back and go on a stretch.
This is where our best ball needs to be played, late December and early January, and then go on to the playoffs.
Q. (No microphone.) How important do you feel like it was to get those?
CJ STROUD: It's always important. We're never not trying to score 7, but they did a good job on those late third downs or second downs generating pressure. Then just playing zone coverage or playing their leverage. There was a couple times where we had a good play in but the DBs played good leverage and took away the looks we wanted.
Had good rush, too.
So but ultimately we protected the ball down there and been able to get three. Our type of defense, that's all you need. We want to reward those guys for turnovers and things like that. We're always trying to score 7. When you can get some type of points it's good.
Q. (Regarding Nico Collins.) Do you feel like you and Nico are back in sync?
CJ STROUD: For sure. I think Nic has come back. I don't think he was very rusty, which has been amazing to see. Turning it on every game, so it's very inspiring to see and I can't wait to keep building with him.
Q. From your perspective in year two, how much is the next level of Nico emerges, (indiscernible) how much does that help you in your second year in the NFL?
CJ STROUD: Helps out tremendously. A lot of times they're trying take me and Nico away, or Tank or Metch, Rob, the passing game, and then we're able to run the ball. At times they try to take away Joe and then we're table to pass it.
There are things we're still really new chemistry we are still working on, and now I feel like we're starting to get that rhythm and just got to keep it going.
We always have really good drives, but those bad plays, we got to get rid of them. Thought our O-line did amazing today in pass protection. Did amazing running the ball to end the game.
They're very, very motivated to be able to run the ball and pass protect. Thought they did a great job.
Q. Dalton mentioned from day one he recognized that Joe so badly wanted to be a leader for this team.
CJ STROUD: Uh-huh.
Q. What is it about him that makes that so genuine and effective?
CJ STROUD: Yeah, just his personality. He's a servant, a helper. That's ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help?
That's ultimately what the game of football is. That's what Jesus was, so that's where I get my motivation from.
Joe has done a great job of that, and I'm just really, really happy he's on my team. Playing against him last year was great with the Bengals. We're now able to generate some good drives with him, being able to rundown hill, stretch zones, switch up scheme, go gap scheme.
Our O-line has bought into what type of back he is, makes the blocks right. He's serving those guys even with that, trying new things he hasn't done in a long time.
So I think he's did not a great, great, great brother to lean on for everybody.
Q. What was that like... (indiscernible.)
CJ STROUD: Yeah, they seen the O-line and our tight ends are receptive, did a great job. Cade, Dalton, and our receivers, too. Rob is doing great. Nico, Tank, Metch all bought into the run game. I thought Jared Wayne did a great job today his first NFL game.
Not just Joe. He knows that and he probably will have told ya'll that before. It takes everybody to get the run game going. I thought they did a great job, especially on that third and five. To end the game like that and go out in the best formation of football, in victory, it's special.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
CJ STROUD: Yeah, I mean, they're our everything. Starts up front, both O-line and D-line. When they can come out and have great protection from the start, it gives me a sense of confidence. Gives the receivers, knowing they can run the full depth. The backs know where to hit.
You know, once you got that flowing, it looks like it's working. But I think they've done a good job handling all the noise and the media and all these things. At the end of the day they'll love you one week and hate you the next. That's part of business we're in.
I think they did a good job keeping their head down and working.
I just want to say prayers to Trevor. I really hope and pray he's okay. Prayers to his family as well. But, yeah, still rocking with Azeez. I don't think that was his intent, and I pray that Trevor is okay and his family is right there with him.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports