Texans 45-14 Browns (13 Jan, 2024) Game Recap،
HOUSTON — — As the games get bigger, CJ Stroud just keeps getting better.
The rookie became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game after throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and the Houston Texans returned two Joe Flacco interceptions for scores in a 45-14 rout of the Cleveland Browns during of a wild-card match on Saturday.
“CJ is the reason we are in this position,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He is special, a special young man. Special player. Continue to shine no matter how big the moment.
“Our whole team leans on him and he has the shoulders to carry this weight.”
Stroud, the second overall pick in last April's draft, is also the highest-drafted rookie QB to make the playoffs. He dismantled Cleveland's vaunted defense, throwing touchdown passes of 15 yards to Nico Collins, 76 to Brevin Jordan and 37 to Dalton Schultz.
“It’s been a heck of a year and I thank God I just get to spend one more week with my teammates,” Stroud said. “It’s like a dream come true.”
At 22 years and 102 days, Stroud passed Michael Vick, who was 22 years and 192 days in 2002 when his Falcons beat the Packers.
“I’m very fortunate to be considered with a big name like Michael Vick, who was my favorite quarterback growing up,” he said. “And hopefully I can get two (wins).”
Stroud threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns before halftime as the Texans took a 24-14 lead. The defense then took over, with Steven Nelson and Christian Harris returning interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive drives in the third quarter to extend the lead to 38-14.
“It was really big to score 14 points on top of what CJ was already doing,” Nelson said. “That just put the icing on the cake for us.”
With the Texans leading 45-14 with nine minutes remaining, Stroud's job was done and he was replaced by Davis Mills.
It was the Browns' worst playoff loss since a 34-0 loss to the Baltimore Colts on December 29, 1968.
Houston is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and Stroud's stellar play and first-year Ryans' leadership have transformed the Texans (11-7) from NFL laughing stock to AFC South champions.
Flacco, who turns 39 on Tuesday, got off the couch to go 4-1 as a starter to finish the regular season. He led the Browns (11-7) to only their third playoff appearance since their expansion renaissance in 1999, but to the second in four seasons under coach Kevin Stefanski.
“We picked a bad day to have a bad day,” Stefanksi said. “It’s all of us. These are players, coaches, offense, defense and special teams. Not good enough.”
Playing in his 17th playoff game, but first in nine years, Flacco was unable to continue his magical run under the bright lights of the playoffs.
“It’s really unfortunate the way things turned out and it’s hard to deal with at the moment,” Flacco said.
He finished with 307 yards and had a touchdown pass in the first half, but his mistakes under pressure in the third quarter were too much for the Browns to overcome on a day when Stroud easily outplayed him in his debut in playoffs.
The previous highest-drafted rookie QB to win a playoff game was Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, who was the fifth overall pick in 2009.
Cleveland's Deshaun Watson was under center for the Texans during their last playoff run, but only played six games for the Browns this season before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. He was on the sidelines Saturday for just the second time since his surgery, watching the coming out party of the man who replaced him as Houston's franchise quarterback.
The sold-out crowd was loud and ready for Houston's return to the playoffs after three horrible seasons in which the team combined for just 11 wins. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” throughout the game when Stroud dropped back to pass.
Collins had six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Devin Singletary ran for 66 yards and a late score for Houston.
Kareem Hunt ran for a touchdown and had a touchdown reception in the first half, but only had 26 yards rushing.
The Browns took a 7-3 lead on Hunt's 1-yard run with about two minutes left in the first quarter.
Collins' 15-yard TD catch put the Texans back up 10-7.
The Browns regained the lead on their next drive when Hunt caught a shovel pass from Flacco and ran 11 yards for a touchdown.
But the advantage lasted only 10 seconds as Jordan caught a short pass and raced past multiple defenders for a 76-yard touchdown to make the score 17-14. It was Houston's longest play this season and the longest in franchise playoff history.
“I’ve been a running back my whole life,” Jordan said. “So I feel like it’s one of those things that I really carry with me as a tight end.”
Stroud's 37-yard pass to Schultz pushed the lead to 24-14 with about a minute left in the second quarter.
Flacco was hit by Derek Barnett while throwing and his pass was recovered by Nelson and returned 82 yards for a touchdown to make the score 31-14 with about six minutes left in the third quarter.
The Browns went for it on fourth-and-2 on their next drive and Flacco was picked off again. This time, Harris returned it 36 yards for the score.
The Texans are the first team to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a game since Seattle did it against Washington on January 5, 2008.
INJURIES
Browns: LG Joel Bitonio injured his ankle in the second quarter.
Texans: WR Noah Brown injured his shoulder in the first quarter. … LB Denzel Perryman injured his ribs in the third quarter.
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