stroud proud

Ken Hoffman on why Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud is the best in the NFL — period

Our columnist knows what we all know: No. 7 is No. 1.

Photo via Houston Texans

We love our quarterback in Houston. And for good reason. C.J. Stroud is lighting up the league and led the Texans to a 45-14 absolute demolition of the Cleveland Browns in the post-season wild card. It's all good.

But let’s be real: This is Houston. We’ve all watched thousands of football games. We’re not giddy high schoolers. We've seen bubbles burst in Houston.

That's why I’m not saying that Stroud is as good as the NFL’s brightest star quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and others.

I’m saying that Stroud is better.

I’m not talking careers, or 10 years ago or 10 years from now. I’m saying right now — last week and next Saturday in Baltimore where the Texans will face the No. 1 seed Ravens.

No. 7 is No. 1

Give me Stroud over any quarterback still alive in the playoffs. And that includes the Ravens' odds-on favorite for league MVP Lamar Jackson. Just look at the comments:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Houston Texans (@houstontexans)

You don’t need to google NFL passer statistics. All you need is two eyes. Have you ever seen a quarterback throw a more accurate pass than Stroud does? Or make all the right moves like Stroud? Who squeezes the most of his and his teammates’ abilities? Who has taken this Texans team and the city of Houston to a place nobody dared to dream a season ago?

Last weekend, Stroud and the Texans faced the favored Cleveland Browns, their heralded pass defense and seasoned, grizzled quarterback Joe Flacco in the AFC wild card. Flacco was one of the most successful post-season quarterbacks — ever. Stroud was … you might have heard he’s a rookie. Everything is the first time for him.

The rookie dusts the season veteran

Flacco entered NRG Stadium as a 38-year-old veteran. In some parts of the country — and definitely on the Maury Povich Show — he was old enough to be Stroud’s father.

When the smoke cleared, Flacco was a beaten mall walker throwing dying quails and multiple pick-sixes. He looked like someone needing to call an Uber to escape a dangerous part of town.

Meanwhile all Stroud did was throw for 274 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a shimmering 157.2 passer rating. Or as we’ve come to know it, just another day at the office for Stroud. He barely made it to the fourth quarter before head coach DeMeco Ryans pushed the pity button and pulled him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Houston Texans (@houstontexans)

Stroud is the model of precision efficiency. Throws touchdowns. Doesn’t throw interceptions. Dinks and dunks. Hurls bombs. It’s fun to watch on TV when the screen shows Stroud releasing the ball and we cut to Camera 2 to find a Texans receiver tracking the pass like NORAD.

In the Texans’ playoff-clinching game, he effortlessly unloaded a long-distance missile to Nico Collins on the first play of the game, the ball spiraled 60 yards in the air, like they were playing catch in the backyard.

What Stroud doesn’t do is almost as important. You don’t see him risking injury for an extra yard that isn’t critical. You don’t see him risking interceptions by flinging the ball backwards over his head to avoid a sack. You don’t see him making dumb decisions. You don’t hear him boastin’ and braggin’ like a crazy person on ESPN.

C.J. Stroud does a lot of things. He just doesn’t do stupid.

-----

What do you love most about C.J. Stroud? Let Ken know at ken@culturemap.com or on Twitter.

to the batcave

Houston park takes flight with bat viewings, chats, and movie night

Photo by Ann Froschauer/USFWS/Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/8006844645/]

undefined

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership announced bat-themed summer programming for the 160-acre park near downtown. Houstonians with an interest in the flying mammals will have plenty of ways to appreciate them.

Every Friday evening at sunset through the end of August, Buffalo Bayou Partnership will host two events centered around Houston's most famous bat colony, the 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats that nest under the Waugh Street Bridge. Visitors get to watch the massive swarm emerge as the sun goes down and the bats hunt insects in the area.

On land, the free Bat Chat event is hosted by the Houston Area Bat Team, including Dr. Cullen Geiselman Muse. She studies the local bat populations and advocates for them based on their helpfulness to Houston.

"Here in Houston, there are insect-eating bats that can consume nearly their body weight in crop pests each night," she said in a statement. "The effects of the bats’ nightly forays add up across space and time. They impact processes ranging from how rainforest regenerate after they are clearcut to how much insecticides farmers use on crops."

People who want a view from the water may take one of the Bat Cruises. These 90-minute trips up and down the bayou cost $30, but do offer one of the most incredible ways to see the emergence. Plus, visitors get to see the area around Buffalo Bayou light up at night. The cruise launches from 1019 Commerce Street, and reservations are required in advance.

Batman Returns

No, one of Houston's most famous urban legends hasn't reemerged. However, BBP is hosting the next best thing: a free screening of the 1992 superhero classic film Batman Returns. Directed by Tim Burton, this Christmas-themed adventure follows Batman (Michael Keaton) as he battles Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the Penguin (Danny Devito) as the latter tries to become mayor of Gotham. Houston is deeply tied to Batman Returns as Six Flags AstroWorld once housed the official tie-in rollercoaster, which included a replica of the Batcave, Penguin's duckmobile, and other memorabilia.

The outdoor screening takes place on Saturday, July 25 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105B Sabine Street). Attendees are encouraged to dress up in costumes from the Batman mythos, and the Houston Area Bat Team will give a talk before the movie begins. It starts at 6 pm, and prior registration is required.

Finally, the The Buffalo Bayou Boutique at The Water Works has added bat plushies, stickers, and bandanas (batdanas) to their store. A full list is available on the boutique website.