Current:Home > StocksBrowns vs. Texans playoff preview: AFC rematch in wild-card round -ValueCore
Browns vs. Texans playoff preview: AFC rematch in wild-card round
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:22:59
The Cleveland Browns knew they'd be going on the road for their AFC wild-card round playoff matchup.
Their opponent, the winner of the AFC South, was the question.
The Houston Texans' victory Saturday, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars' loss to the Tennessee Titans the following afternoon, gave the Browns their answer. Houston won its first division title since 2019 as a result of the outcomes. And Sunday set up a rematch of a Christmas Eve game that was a shining moment for Joe Flacco, wideout Amari Cooper and the Browns' 2023 season.
This time, however, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud – the overwhelming favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year – will be playing.
Who won first Browns vs. Texans game?
Cleveland won, 36-22, with the game being more of a blowout than the final score indicated.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The Browns started fast in Houston and never looked back. Running back Jerome Ford scored less than two minutes into the game. A long completion from Flacco to Cooper set up the touchdown, and it would become a theme that day.
Cooper broke Josh Gordon's single-game Browns receiving record with 265 yards on 11 catches and had two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder. Flacco finished with three touchdowns, two interceptions and 368 passing yards (27-for-42 on completions).
Case Keenum, starting for the injured Stroud, and the Texans' offense was held scoreless against the Browns defense – until Davis Mills led Houston on two garbage-time touchdown drives.
Why did C.J. Stroud miss game vs. Browns?
During a Week 14 game against the New York Jets, the back of Stroud's helmet slammed hard into the MetLife Stadium turn. He exited and was placed in the concussion protocol. He did not practice during Weeks 15 and 16 as he progressed through the protocol.
Stroud returned for Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans and authored an impressive performance Saturday (20-for-26 passing, 264 yards, two touchdowns) to clinch a postseason berth.
Joe Flacco career playoff record
The Browns signed Flacco off the couch – make that carpool line – to the practice squad after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. His first start came Dec. 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Browns won every game he started thereafter. Flacco has thrown for more than 300 yards in all of those victories.
The MVP of Super Bowl 47 with the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco is no stranger to road postseason games. He was 10-5 in the playoffs, with eight of those victories came away form Baltimore. Flacco was 5-0 as a starter in the wild-card round.
veryGood! (543)
Related
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- Reba McEntire on collaborating with Dolly Parton, looking ‘tough sexy’ and living ‘Not That Fancy’
- U.S ambassador to Libya says deadly floods have spurred efforts to unify the north African country
- South African flag may be taken down at rugby & cricket World Cups for doping body’s non-compliance
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- PGA Tour's Peter Malnati backtracks after calling Lexi Thompson's exemption 'gimmick'
- New York pilot who pleads not guilty to stalking woman by plane is also accused of throwing tomatoes
- Donald Trump may visit the Capitol to address Republicans as they pick a new speaker, AP sources say
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Starbucks is distributing coffee beans it developed to protect supply from climate change effects
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Dealer gets 30 years in prison after 3 people die of fentanyl poisoning on same day
- 'Heartbreaking': Twin infants found dead in Houston home, no foul play suspected
- Man arrested for murder of woman beaten to death in 1983
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Bullet fired at football field ruptures 7-year-old's spleen, shatters community's heart
- Emoji reactions now available in Gmail for Android users
- Monkey with sprint speeds as high as 30 mph on the loose in Indianapolis; injuries reported
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
A candidate sues New Jersey over its ‘so help me God’ pledge on a nominating petition
House fire or Halloween decoration? See the display that sparked a 911 call in New York
It's Texas-OU's last Red River Rivalry in the Big 12. This split is a sad one.
Small twin
Tom Hanks: Don't fall for AI version of me promoting dental plan
Accountant’s testimony sprawls into a 4th day at Trump business fraud trial in New York
Lady Gaga does not have to pay $500,000 reward to woman involved in dognapping case, judge rules