In the blink of an eye, Saturday's Super Wild Card Weekend Showdown between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns changed on a dime. Just seconds after falling behind in the second quarter, the Texans re-gained the lead and proceeded to score 35 unanswered points in their eventual 45-14 win.
Fittingly, the go-ahead touchdown was thrown by C.J. Stroud, whose 236 passing yards in the first half is a new rookie playoff record. Stroud, whose three first-half touchdown passes tied a playoff rookie single-game record, gave Houston the lead for good on his 76-yard touchdown pass to Brevin Jordan with 12 minutes left until halftime. His 37-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz late in the half gave Houston a 24-14 lead at intermission.
The game officially got away from the Browns midway through the third quarter, when Joe Flacco threw the first of his two pick-sixes in a two-minute span. Steven Nelson authored the first pick-six on an 82-yard return. Christian Harris followed suit moments later on his 36-yard catch-and-carry.
Kareem Hunt scored two first-half touchdowns, but the Browns were unable to keep pace with the Texans, whose 31-point win is the largest margin of victory in franchise postseason history.
Here's a closer look at Houston's fifth postseason win.
Houston made it a track meet in the first half while forcing Cleveland to try to keep pace. It did so by getting Stroud in rhythm and taking away a Browns running game that gained just 56 yards on 20 carries. Stroud was aided by an offensive line that not allow a single sack.
In retrospect, Stroud's touchdown pass to Schultz was a big moment in the game. It further stretched Houston's lead while putting more pressure on Flacco and the Browns' offense. That surely contributed to the pick-sixes that ended the game in the third quarter.
Really, though, this game mostly came down to the play of the two quarterbacks, whose 17-year age gap is the most by opposing playoff QBs. Stroud had a near perfect passer rating, while Flacco continued his trend of turning the ball over.
Sure, they had some comebacks this season, including a Week 14 win over the Jaguars that was Flacco's breakout game with the Browns. But largely, the Browns are a front-running team that thrives off of dictating things to their opponents. That wasn't the case Sunday.
Trailing for most of the game forced the Browns to rely more on Flacco, who did complete 15 of his first 19 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. But Flacco's early success wasn't sustainable, as the Texans increased their pressure (sacking Flacco four times) while forcing arrant passes.
The offense struggled, but Cleveland's defense also played a huge role in the loss. The unit applied no pressure on Stroud, were unable to keep him in the pocket and put on a clinic for how not to tackle. It was a humbling ending for a defense that had was a major reason why the Browns won 11 games this season despite starting five different quarterbacks.
Everyone who watched this game knows when the turning point happened. It occurred on Nelson's pick-six that gave Houston a 31-14 lead with 6:05 left in the third quarter. Derek Barnett's pressure of Flacco contributed to Nelson's game-changing play.
Nelson's play changed the game, but Harris' pick-six moments later sealed the win for Houston. On the play, Harris perfectly read Flacco's eyes before stepping in front of Harrison Bryant, catching the ball and heading for pay dirt.
Harris made history by becoming the first player since Texans legend JJ Watt to record a pick-six and a sack in a playoff game.
We also need to give props to the Texans' offense on their go-ahead score that saw Jordan receive a huge block by wideout Xavier Hutchinson.
"It instills a lot of confidence in us. He's a God fearing individual. To see a young guy go there and keep his composure. It kind of instills faith in everybody else as well." Harris on Stroud during his postgame interview with NBC Sports
The Texans will await their opponent in the AFC divisional round. Houston will host another playoff game if both Kansas City and Buffalo lose over the next two days. The Texans are one win away from advancing to their first-ever AFC title game.
Cleveland heads into the offseason after going 11-6 during the 2023 season. The Browns made the playoffs despite losing Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson to season-ending injuries.
Backup Davis Mills checks in at QB for C.J. Stroud. The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft finishes with 274 passing yards while tying the NFL rookie, single-game passing touchdowns record for a postseason game (three) on 16 of 21 passing.
Browns turn it over on downs after a drop by David Njoku on downs. That's about it. 45-14 Texans on top, and they have the ball at the Browns' 46 with 9:22 left to play.
The Texans have officially broken the Browns. Running back Devin Singletary makes a single jump cut to the left and somehow that springs him for a walk-in, 19-yard rushing touchdown. Houston now trails by 31, 45-14 with 13:27 left to play. Party time in Texas.
When it rains, it pours. The Houston Texans defense didn't have any pick-sixes all regular season. Now they have two in consecutive possessions. First, it was corner Steven Nelson for 82 yards. Now, it's second-year linebacker Christian Harris with 36-yard interception return touchdown. 38-14 Texans with 3:40 left in the third quarter.
Joe Flacco led the NFL with eight interceptions in his five starts this season from Weeks 13-17. Houston has two cornerbacks in corner Derek Stingley Jr. (five interceptions, tied for the fourth most in the NFL) and corner Steven Nelson (four interceptions, tied for the eighth most in the NFL) were likely salivating over a second crack at playing against him this season.
Nelson hauls in Flacco's first interception of the afternoon and returns it 82 yards to the house for a pick-six. Texans lead 31-14 with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
Browns defense stands strong after halftime, allowing just one first down and forcing a Texans punt. Joe Flacco and the Browns offense hits the field for the first time in the second half down 10, 24-14, with 11:27 left in the third quarter.
This is the first game since at least 1975 with four tight ends (David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Brevin Jordan and Dalton Schultz) with a 30-yard catch, regular season or postseason.
Texans lead by 10 at the half, 24-14. C.J. Stroud has picked apart a Browns defense that has struggled away from home all year long with 236 passing yards and three passing touchdowns on 11 of 16 passing. Browns QB Joe Flacco hasn't played poorly with 172 yards and a touchdown on 15 of 19 passing. However, Cleveland has had to punt double the amount of times (four to two) that Houston has. The Texans will get the football to start the second half.
Browns This Regular Season
Home Road
W-L 8-1 3-5
Opp PPG 13.9 << 29.6 <<
Opp YPG 215.9 331.3
Yds/play 3.7 5.5
>> T-worst scoring defense on road (best at home)
Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has gotten behind the Browns defense twice today. The first time, he dropped the ball. This time, he makes amends, hauling in C.J. Stroud's deep ball for a 37-yard score. 24-14 Texans with 1:11 left in the first half. Schultz smoothly executes the scramble drill, working his back to the left to get open deep.
Back to back punts for the two teams, both defenses are finally catching their breath. The Texans take over at their own 29 after the Browns' fourth punt of the game. 17-14 Texans in front with 5:44 left in the half.
After four consecutive scoring drives between the two teams, some defense finally shows up. The Browns lose a combined 12 yards on their drive, including eight on a third and 14 sack by Derek Barnett. Cleveland punts the ball back to the Texans down three, 17-14, with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
Today's playoff game is the first since at least 1991 (the play-by-play era), regular season or playoffs, with three tight ends (David Njoku, Harrison Bryant and Brevin Jordan) with a catch of 40 or more yards.
Houston ripped the lead back from the Browns in just one play: a 76-yard passing touchdown from C.J. Stroud to tight end Brevin Jordan. Jordan faked a block at the beginning of the play, which was a play-action pass, and the two defenders he was pretending to block went to go chase Stroud after Jordan went out to pass. The rookie QB was able to thread the pass over those two defenders out-stretched arms, and after one critical juke move by Jordan, he was home free to the end zone. 17-14 Texans on top with 12 minutes left in the half.
Per NBC Sports' Kathryn Tappen, Texans LT Laremy Tunsil is questionable to return with a leg injury.
Five plays after the big throw to Bryant, Joe Flacco connects with running back Kareem Hunt for his first postseason touchdown pass with the Browns via a shovel pass that Hunt took 11 yards. 14-10 Browns on top with 12:18 left in the half.
Joe Flacco responds to a Texans touchdown with a big play just as he did on the last drive. He begins the next Cleveland drive with a 47-yard pitch-and-catch to tight end Harrison Bryant.
Texans four-time Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil suffered an injury on the extra point following the Collins touchdown. Will be a key situation to monitor.
Three plays after the big run from Devin Singletary, the Texans snatch the lead right back. C.J. Stroud hit Nico Collins on play-action wide receiver screen on the left side of the field, and Collins did the rest, finding the end zone for a 15-yard score. 10-7 Houston leads Cleveland early second quarter.
The end of the first quarter turned into an offensive firework show after a slow start to the game. Texans RB Devin Singletary exploded off the right side of the line of scrimmage for a gain of 29 yards to get Houston's ensuing possesion started.
Five plays after the big play from Flacco to Njoku, Cleveland gets into the end zone. Browns running back Kareem Hunt plunges into the end zone from one-yard out. 7-3 Browns with 2:09 left in the opening quarter.
Joe Flacco answers C.J. Stroud deep ball to Nico Collins with one of his own to tight end David Njoku. Njoku faked an out route before continuing vertically up the seam in the middle of the field. Flacco hits him in stride for a 45-yard strike.
However, the Texans can't capitalize fully on Stroud's deep shot to Collins. Two incompletions with a one-yard scramble by Stroud on a second down make up a sandwich of plays that result in Houston kicking a 21-yard field goal to take the first lead of the game. The Texans lead 3-0 with 5:29 left in the first quarter.
C.J. Stroud makes the first big play of this game, a 38-yuard gain to get Houston down to a first-and-goal at the six. Nico Collins hit his man with a double move and got himself wide open.
Houston got off to quick start, but after they crossed midfield, miscues ensued. Tight end Dalton Schultz dropped a wide open pass, and then Stroud couldn't connect with Noah Brown on third down. Following the Houston punt, the Browns will begin their second drive at their own eight in a zero to zero ball game.
After a first down on the first play from scrimmage, an 11-yard pass from Joe Flacco to running back Jerome Ford, Cleveland couldn't find a rhythm and needed to punt. The Browns gained five more to Bell on the next play before a run blitz by the Texans dropped Ford four yards behind the line of scrimmage. Then in a collapsing pocket, Flacco checked down to Kareem Hunt behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a loss of six yards.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense will take the field for the first time next in a scoreless game.
The Texans will defer to the second half, so Joe Flacco and the Browns offense takes the field first.
C.J. Stroud has thrown for 311.7 passing yards per game, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions this season against teams with winning records. That's the third-best touchdown-to-interception ratio against winning teams since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger among those with a minimum of 200 pass attempts.
The Texans offense versus the Browns defense is like an unstoppable force against an unmovable object. Stroud led the NFL in passing yards per game (273.9), but Cleveland allowed the fewest passing yards per game this season (164.7).
The rookie also led the NFL in expected points per dropback against zone coverage this season, but he ranked 23rd in the league against man coverage. The Browns play man coverage at the highest rate in the league (41%) and allow the lowest completion percentage in man coverage (45%). Losing fellow rookie Tank Dell to a season-ending leg injury didn't help matters for Stroud as now only Nico Collins is Houston's lone, reliable man-coverage beater.
Joe Flacco has all this great momentum entering the postseason, but he does have one glaring issue: interceptions. He led the NFL with eight interceptions in his five starts this season from Weeks 13-17. Houston has two cornerbacks in corner Derek Stingley Jr. (five interceptions, tied for the fourth most in the NFL) and Steven Nelson (four interceptions, tied for the eighth most in the NFL) who are likely salivating over a second crack at playing against him this season.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco led the NFL in pass attempts (204), passing yards (1,616), passing touchdowns (13) and interceptions (8) from Weeks 13-17. This stretch made him the first player in NFL history with 250+ passing yards and multiple passing touchdowns in each of his first five games with a franchise. With a win on Saturday, he can make more NFL history and become the first quarterback to win eight road playoff starts. His seven such wins are tied with Tom Brady for the most all time.
Most Road Playoff Wins by Starting QB
NFL History
Joe Flacco 7 <<
Tom Brady 7
Eli Manning 5
Aaron Rodgers 5
Ben Roethlisberger 5
>> On road at Texans in Wild Card Round
