CJ Stroud Wants to Earn Patrick Mahomes’ Respect Ahead of Vital Chiefs-Texans Clash in KC

CJ Stroud has never defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

CJ Stroud Wants to Earn Patrick Mahomes’ Respect Ahead of Vital Chiefs-Texans Clash in KC

CJ Stroud and Patrick Mahomes (Image via IMAGO)

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Quarterback CJ Stroud returned to action last week and rallied the Houston Texans to a famous win against the high-flying Indianapolis Colts. In week 14, the Texans take on the 6-6 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Despite boasting a superior 7-5 record, the Texans walk in as the underdogs against last year’s losing Super Bowl finalists. Stroud is looking forward to squaring off against Patrick Mahomes, whom he holds in the highest regard. Speaking with the media this week, Stroud revealed that he respects the competitive nature of the two-time NFL MVP. CJ Stroud said:

It’s always cool to go play in KC, against a team who’s been really great for the last couple of years. I’ve been a fan of Pat [Patrick Mahomes] for a long time. And just, he’s a heck of a player, and it’s just really cool, being about five years ago, I was in high school, watching. And then, now you’re competing against those guys.

Stroud is 0-2 against the Chiefs in his fledgling NFL career. In those two games, he has a passer rating of 82.2 with 489 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Despite sharing a history with the Chiefs, Stroud doesn’t consider himself a rival of Mahomes. He added:

I don’t really think we have that [rivalry with Patrick]. I don’t really know him too well. But I think he’s a heck of a player. And anytime you get to share the field with some legendary guys, you just try to gain their respect and move from there.

A hit from Kris Abrams-Draine during the Texans’ week 9 loss to the Broncos put Stroud on the concussion protocol. Davis Mills stepped up and won three straight games before handing the mantle back to the third-year signal caller ahead of the Colts tie.

Stroud passed for 276 yards with one interception in Indy, but helped set up rushing touchdowns for both Nick Chubb and Nico Collins.

CJ Stroud gave his honest opinion on Steve Spagnuolo

While Mahomes and Travis Kelce take care of the offence at KC, Steve Spagnuolo is the mastermind behind the Chiefs’ stingy defense. During their Super Bowl run last year, the Chiefs’ defense ranked among the best in the league.

CJ Stroud Wants to Earn Patrick Mahomes' Respect Ahead of Vital Chiefs-Texans Clash in KC
CJ Stroud (Image via IMAGO)

Stroud has to go up against players like Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Trent McDuffie and Nick Bolton and survive long enough to make plays. With Spagnuolo calling the shots, Stroud knows he will be busier than usual.

Spags [coach Spagnuolo] is a heck of a DC. Somebody who knows what he’s doing. Knows how to get his guys in one-on-ones and messes with your protection rules, and things like that. So, you got to just be alert for that type of stuff.

However, the Chiefs’ defense hasn’t produced the goods in 2025. They have averaged 306.7 yards and conceded 19.3 points per outing. Stroud won’t have a better opportunity to get a win against the Chiefs than this Sunday. The Texans’ defense will play a big role in the game.

They currently average 2.8 sacks per game, but that number jumps to 4 per game over the last three. In the week 12 win against the Bills, the Texans sacked quarterback Josh Allen 8 times to force several turnovers.

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