By DJ Harding –
The Cleveland Browns traveled to Houston, facing the Texans for the first game of Wildcard Weekend. Houston held home field advantage after winning the AFC South for the first time since 2019. The Texans also bring with them the biggest turnaround of the 2023-2024 season being the only team finishing first in their division this year after placing last the previous year.
Number overall selection C.J Stroud has been phenomenal for Houston this season becoming the only rookie and one of three players in the last 50 seasons to lead the NFL in passing yards per game and pass touchdown to interception ratio. Then you add Demeco Ryans to the mix as a first year head coach delivering the Texans back to the postseason.
The Browns entered today with an impressive regular season of their own with the reemergence of Joe Flacco and the dominance of Cleveland’s defense being ranked number one going into the playoffs. Both teams look to book their ticket into the divisional round.
Punting was the end result of the first three drives between both teams before Houston got on the board, first with a 21-yard field goal putting Houston up 3-0. The Browns then got down the field in six plays, traveling 75 yards to score the first touchdown of the game.
Kareem Hunt ran for one yard to score the touchdown, giving the Browns a 7-3. Stroud then led the Texans back down the field to retake the lead with a four play 75-yard drive. Stroud threw his first career postseason passing touchdown to Nico Collins for 15 yards. The first quarter finished with a 10-7 score with Houston in front.
Cleveland responded, scoring on the fourth straight drive between the two teams with a passing touchdown from Joe Flacco to Kareem Hunt, putting the Browns back in the lead. Houston immediately took the lead right back with a one play score for 76 yards. The passing touchdown from C.J. Stroud to Brevin Jordan, putting the score at 17-14.
After five straight scoring drives, both teams then shared a series of punts before the Texans found their way to the end zone before halftime. With just over a minute left before the half, C.J. Stroud threw his third touchdown to Dalton Schultz for 37 yards, which tied the rookie postseason record for touchdown passes.
Joe Flacco saw hsi magic run out in the second half, especially the third quarter, when he threw interceptions on back to back drives. To make matters worse, both of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Texans’ defense.
The first interception was returned for 82 yards while the second was returned 36 yards. After the two pick sixes, Houston found themselves up 38-14, putting them game out of reach.
Devin Singletary would find the endzone in the fourth quarter scoring another touchdown for the Texans. The final score saw Houston win 45-14, giving C.J. Stroud and head coach Demeco Ryans a win in their playoff debuts.
Stroud himself has a record-setting performance tying the rookie record for passing touchdowns while also breaking the record for passer rating. Stroud also made some extra history becoming the first rookie quarterback to beat the top defense in the playoffs and become the first rookie quarterback to beat a Super Bowl winning quarterback in the playoffs.
The Texans now await their opponent depending on how the other games turn out during the rest of the wildcard weekend.