Former Detroit Lions quarterback Charlie Batch unexpectedly became part of the conversation following the Houston Texans’ playoff loss to the New England Patriots, after a rough outing by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud sparked reactions on social media.
Stroud struggled mightily in the postseason matchup, throwing four interceptions in the first half of a 28–16 road playoff defeat against the No. 2-seeded Patriots. The performance quickly drew criticism online, with one fan making a comparison that caught national attention.
“C.J. Stroud has the best defense in the world and has regressed to Charlie Batch,” the user posted on social media.
The comment eventually reached Batch himself, prompting a lighthearted response from the retired NFL quarterback.
“How’d I catch a stray in this? Lol,” Batch replied.
Charlie Batch’s NFL Career in Context
Batch played college football at Eastern Michigan (1994–1997) before being selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Detroit (1998–2001) before continuing his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he served as a reliable backup from 2002–2012.
C.J. Stroud’s Tough Playoff Night
Stroud finished the game 20-of-47 passing for 212 yards, but his early struggles proved too much to overcome against a disciplined Patriots defense. Houston was also shorthanded offensively, as wide receiver Nico Collins was ruled out after suffering a concussion the previous week.
The Texans’ problems compounded when tight end Dalton Schultz exited the game and did not return due to a calf injury.
Stroud on Playing in Hostile Environments
Earlier in the week, Stroud addressed the challenge of playing on the road in the playoffs, acknowledging the difficulty of hostile environments.
“I think we’ve had a couple tough away games this year,” Stroud told reporters. “A lot of passionate fans, they say a lot of crazy things. Last week was a good test for us, and this next week was going to be the same type of environment.”
He added, “Loud. Northeast is always hectic and rowdy. We just have to weather the storm and focus play in and play out.”
Despite the loss, Stroud emphasized his excitement heading into the matchup.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there and put our best foot forward,” he said. “That’s all our focus right now.”
