In Week 2, Monday Night Football didn’t exactly live up to the hype, that is, until the game’s last three minutes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans exchanged punts, wasted opportunities, and moans from their respective fan bases for most of the evening. It was less of a display and more of a grind.
However, everything flipped, and by the end, Houston fans were frustrated again, this time pointing their fingers at quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Why Did Fans Put Blame on C.J. Stroud After Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers Stole Win in Houston?
Houston actually looked like it might steal the game late. A 53-yard punt return from the special teams unit set the stage, and Nick Chubb muscled in for a touchdown two plays later to put the Texans ahead. With just under two minutes left, Houston had the lead and a chance to close things out.
But two minutes is an eternity in the NFL, and Baker Mayfield proved it. The Bucs quarterback stayed calm, slicing up Houston’s defense with quick passes before capping off the drive with Rachaad White running it in with only six seconds on the clock.
Tampa Bay escaped with the win, moving to 2-0 for the eighth year. Conversely, the Texans fell to 0-2, and the spotlight quickly turned to their young QB.
Stroud’s final stat line wasn’t terrible: 207 yards and one touchdown. But the problem was what those numbers didn’t show: missed reads, stalled drives, and an inability to put the game away when Houston had the chance. And that’s precisely what fans hammered him for after the loss.
“Never compare C.J. Stroud to Jordan Love again please,” one fan tweeted.
Never compare CJ stroud to Jordan love again please #GoPackGo #MNF
— bryan. (@_KiingBryan) September 16, 2025
Another was a little more forgiving of the situation but still blunt: “C.J. Stroud lost this game, but what a drive from Baker.”
CJ Stroud lost this game, but what a drive from Baker.
— Dominic Gugliotta (@DomGoogs) September 16, 2025
Some went straight for the jugular, dragging Stroud into the ever-present debates about Tua Tagovailoa. “The Texans are absolutely pathetic and C.J. Stroud might be worse than Tua,” one viral post read.
The Texans are absolutely pathetic and CJ Stroud might be worse than Tua
— Coach Slime (@FinsOrDie) September 16, 2025
Other fans echoed the same frustration: “Yikes Texans. Stroud did his defense no favors. He fell way off after the rookie season.”
Yikes Texans. Stroud did his defense no favors. He fell way off after the rookie season
— Rebekah with a k (@Dr_McCloud) September 16, 2025
Another piled on: “C.J. Stroud probably just isn’t very good huh.”
CJ Stroud probably just isn’t very good huh
— Socialist Bucks (@socialistbucks) September 16, 2025
Frustrating Loss for Houston, Hoping to Bounce Back in Week 3
It wasn’t just about one game; fans feel like they’ve seen this movie before. Since his rookie year, Stroud has struggled to take that next step, and patience in Houston is wearing thin.
Every error is magnified in a league where quarterbacks are evaluated rapidly and brutally. While Stroud left the field with his supporters wondering if he was the right man to lead this squad, Mayfield left with the excitement of a thrilling victory.
