Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud came into today’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with only two interceptions thrown on the season. The Cardinals picked off Stroud three times on Sunday.
The first interception was by safety Jalen Thompson. Thompson was able to fool Stroud into thinking he wouldn’t be underneath the intended wide receiver’s route. Stroud didn’t see Thompson and the Cardinals stopped the Texans from expanding their lead.
JT comes up big with an INT in the endzone 👏@jt_broooo x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/9YQUXPFvcX
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 19, 2023
This was Thompson’s second interception of the season and the seventh of his career.
The second interception thrown by Stroud was also in the red zone. This was a big time play as it kept the Cardinals in the game.
YEAH, WE'LL TAKE THAT!!!! pic.twitter.com/lX5uOAiRfz
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 19, 2023
Krys Barnes not only took advantage of the tipped ball by picking it off. He returned it for 46 yards to put the Cardinals in good field position. This was the first interception of Barnes’ career.
The third interception thrown by Stroud was caught by Antonio Hamilton Sr. Stroud was late on a out route and Hamilton jumped on it.
Ham getting us the ball back! pic.twitter.com/DRdZU5REW6
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 19, 2023
This was Hamilton’s first interception of the season and the second of his career. The Cardinals were not able to take advantage of any of these turnovers and still lost the game.
This was not only the first three interception game of Stroud’s professional career. It was the first three interception game of his life. Stroud didn’t have any games with three interceptions in college at Ohio State or in high school at Rancho Cucamonga in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Despite Stroud throwing the most interceptions he has ever thrown in a game, the Texans still got the win, 21-16. The Houston Texans are now 6-4 and the Arizona Cardinals fell to 2-9 on the season.
