C.J. Stroud on Texans' wild-card rout over Browns: 'This is a dream come true'

The Texans returned to the postseason in a dramatic and assertive manner.

Houston dominated Cleveland in all phases during Saturday’s opening game of Super Wild Card Weekend, riding a hot start by rookie C.J. Stroud and a defense intent on scoring points of its own to a 45-14 win over the Browns.

Stroud expressed his elation about the victory on Saturday, describing it as a dream come true. He highlighted the close-knit nature of the team, inclusive of offense, defense, and special teams, and their ability to work well together. Stroud was thrilled at the prospect of another week with his teammates, whom he refers to as ‘brothers.’ He expressed his excitement for both the team and the city of Houston. Stroud also conveyed his gratitude for being in his current position.

In his first-ever NFL postseason game, coinciding with the team’s first return to the playoffs since the 2019 season, Stroud showcased veteran-like skills. He achieved 274 yards, three touchdowns, and a nearly perfect passer rating of 157.2, on 16-of-21 passing.

The 22-year-old started off strong but due to a couple of drops on his initial drive and a halt on his second, only managed to secure three points. However, he bounced back, successfully leading three touchdown drives of 75, 76, and 71 yards in the first half.

He concluded on passes, tying the postseason rookie record for touchdown throws in a game.

“C.J. is responsible for the situation we are in,” said Texans head coach Demeco Ryans, referring to the outstanding performance. “He’s exceptional. An extraordinary young man. A remarkable player. His brilliance persists regardless of the magnitude of the moment. Our entire team is relying on him, and he is capable of shouldering that burden. … It’s amazing to see a young player who can bear the weight of the team, and how the team supports him. The confidence he instills in our entire team is just incredible to observe.”

During a significant part of the first half, the teams maintained a close game, alternately scoring on their respective drives.

But Houston’s defense proved slightly stouter, and Stroud’s touchdown at the tail end of the second quarter, a perfect 37-yard touch pass to tight end Dalton Schultz with 1:11 remaining, gave the Texans a buffer that seemed absolutely imperative in a tightly contested battle heading into the second half.

Stroud was able to mostly relax in the second half, as it turned out. He only played 11 snaps, as the Texans D ramped up the pressure, resulting in Cleveland scoring zero points and making two crucial turnovers for the rest of the game.

During the Browns’ inaugural drive in the third quarter, they advanced 48 yards over seven plays. With a first down at Houston’s 34-yard line, they were poised to narrow the gap to a one-score game via either a field goal or touchdown.

The Texans, who had put stress on quarterback Joe Flacco throughout the first half, nearly got home again on the next snap. Derek Barnett broke through for a pressure, to which Flacco responded with a panicked throw in no man’s land between his closest two targets.

Houston cornerback Steven Nelson was waiting there, and he collected the wayward pass for the first pick-six of his career.

During the Browns’ subsequent possession — now devoid of any momentum — Flacco made another fatal turnover on fourth-and-2.

Linebacker Christian Harris undercut his throw and streaked 36 yards the other way for Houston’s second INT TD of the day.

“After the game, Ryans remarked, “I’ve never witnessed consecutive pick-sixes of that nature. We were counting on our defenses to step up. We were aware that Joe (Flacco) had previously given us a tough time a few weeks ago, and we recognized the challenge in the passing game. It was impressive for Nelly (Steven Nelson) to make the interception he did, as well as for (Christian) Harris. They made significant plays. One of our primary strategies coming into the game was to be aggressive with the football. However, being aggressive and then scoring — that really shifted the dynamic of the game for us.”

Within five scrimmage plays and 1:59 of game time, the Texans transitioned from potential winners in a potential shootout to dominant wild-card powerhouses with a strong 38-14 lead.

Devin Singletary‘s 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter following Cleveland’s second of an eventual three consecutive turnovers on downs was Houston’s final salvo.

With 9:22 left in the game, Stroud sat down. Despite only attempting five passes in the second half, he had managed to throw for the third-highest yardage this season against the NFL’s top-ranked passing defense.

He became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game at the age of 22 years and 102 days, according to NFL Research. He joined Flacco as one of four first-round QBs since 1967 to achieve this feat as a rookie.

Thanks to his offensive line warding off Cleveland’s formidable pass rush and not allowing a single sack, Singletary was able to find space to move behind them, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Four different defenders from Houston achieved a sack, including Barnett, responsible for forcing the first pick-six, and Harris, who scored the second one.

The crushing defeat abruptly ended what could have been a fairy tale season for Flacco, the almost 39-year-old who re-energized the Browns’ season after coming out of retirement. However, he will now be returning to the sidelines for the rest of the playoffs.

However, the story of the Texans is to be continued.

The Houston team, guided by a rookie QB-head coach duo, surpassed expectations by reaching the AFC Divisional Round ahead of schedule. Following their early arrival to the playoffs, they demonstrated remarkable performance and carried an impressive momentum into the competition.