Stroud opened Monday night with surgical accuracy, firing for a TD on Houston’s first drive and pushing the Texans to a quick 10-0 edge. Adjustments by Tampa Bay cooled his rhythm, and a costly red-zone hold by Tytus Howard left six points on the board. Stroud cooled after halftime, finishing 8-for-17 for 102 yards, with indecisive progression and a handful of high-throws under duress. Houston’s offense sputtered, dropping to 0-2 while needing cleaner reads, sharper ball placement, and faster decision-making to rebound.

New Orleans sits at 0-2 after two tight losses, with first-year play-caller Kellen Moore guiding a still-developing offense. Spencer Rattler has shown clear improvement, protecting the ball and giving the team a plausible path to wins, while Alvin Kamara has been the offense’s brightest asset, grinding out yards and highlighting week-to-week upside. The passing attack hasn’t clicked consistently yet, though Juwan Johnson has offered a spark. The defense has had sturdy moments but can’t close out games. They head to Seattle salivating at a break in the schedule with 15 games left to salvage the season.

Their upcoming matchup vs Seattle is a key test, as the Seahawks bring a different style that can reveal where New Orleans must grow in the passing game and in situational efficiency. With football life in the balance for fantasy managers, this is a pivotal week to gauge progress from Rattler and Kamara, and to watch how the defense handles Seattle’s pace and offense.

Division standings show Tampa Bay up 2-0, Atlanta 1-1, and Carolina 0-2, setting a challenging but navigable path for New Orleans with 15 games remaining to flip the narrative.