ANTHONY DASILVA, STAFF WRITER
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Houston Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua have led their teams to the playoffs while breaking records. Stroud and Nacua are the favorites to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Nacua has had a record-breaking year, but Stroud will likely win the award for leading a below-average Texans team to the playoffs.
C.J. Stroud will win Rookie of the Year for turning the Houston Texans from a team that went 11-38-1 over the past three seasons to a team that went 10-7 and won a playoff game.
Stroud joined some elite company this season, becoming the third player in NFL history to lead the league in pass yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio, joining Joe Montana and Tom Brady.
Stroud also broke the record for the most pass attempts by a rookie to start a career without throwing an interception, and he wasn’t just throwing checkdowns the whole game; Stroud was taking multiple deep shots per game, which shows how accurate and reliable he was with the ball in his hand.
Stroud was more than great this season; he was clutch. In the Texans’ week nine matchup against the Tampa Buccaneers, Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns and led a game-winning drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Tank Dell.
Puka Nacua has had a record-breaking season as well, and in any other year would be my pick to win Rookie of the Year. Nacua finished the season with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards, which broke Jaylen Waddle’s 2021 rookie reception record and Bill Gorman’s 1960 rookie receiving yards record.
Nacua’s impact isn’t nearly as crucial as Stroud’s because the Rams are only two years removed from winning the Super Bowl, while the Texans have been one of the worst teams in football.
Nacua has been an impact player for the Rams all season, especially in their Wild Card loss to the Detroit Lions, where Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Puka Nacua has been a game-changer for the Rams, but he isn’t changing the franchise’s fate like Stroud.
C.J. Stroud has changed the direction of the Houston Texans franchise with the help of his rookie head coach and former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans. With C.J. Stroud in Houston, the Texans will compete in the playoffs for a shot at the Super Bowl almost every year. I don’t think the same can be said for Puka Nacua, even though he is already a top 12 wide receiver in the NFL. C.J. Stroud will win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and be an MVP candidate for the foreseeable future.
dasilvaf21@bonaventure.edu
