CLEVELAND BROWNS VS. HOUSTON TEXANS INSTANT REACTION: CJ Stroud is LEGIT; Joe Flacco is still human - Video

This was flat out embarrassing, no other way to put it.

The Cleveland Browns were 2.5 point favorites heading into the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans, but got boat raced out of NRG Stadium. CJ Stroud outplayed Joe Flacco as the rookie carved up the Browns #1 defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Kareem Hunt scored 2 first half TDs, but Stroud was on fire, throwing 3 first half TDs, and Flacco threw back-to-back pick-6s to the Texans defense as the game got out of hand.

The Browns had every chance to stop the Texans offense but it was to no avail, as the better team on the field will march on to the next round of the playoffs.

At the end of the day, the lights were too bright for Kevin Stefanski's squad, which overcame so much this season, but it wasn't enough in the long run.

From ESPN's preview of the game:

"C.J. Stroud and the rest of Houston’s rookies started a group chat soon after the draft to discuss their goals.

“And we were like, ‘Man, we’re going to be the foundation that changes this thing around,’ and lo and behold, that’s ... what came to be true,” Stroud said.

And it happened much quicker than most anyone predicted for the Texans (10-7), who will return to playoffs for the first time since 2019 when they host Cleveland (11-6) in the wild-card round Saturday.

Stroud, the second overall pick, is the only rookie starting quarterback to make the playoffs this season, and the 22-year-old will face off against the oldest QB in the postseason in Cleveland’s Joe Flacco, who turns 39 three days after the game.

Stroud will face the Browns for the first time. He missed Houston’s 36-22 loss to them on Dec. 24 while recovering from a concussion. The Texans were also missing rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr., the No. 3 pick in the draft, and linebacker Blake Cashman in that game.

Cleveland knows it will be a challenge to contain Stroud, who has thrown for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns.

“He’s awesome,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I remember watching him early because we had some crossover tape and getting ready to play Baltimore. I know ... that was his first game, and I think even in that game, you saw some plays and some throws where you knew right away that kid was really, really talented.”



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