Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud continued his remarkable season, throwing three touchdowns as the Houston Texans delivered a brutal ending to Joe Flacco’s comeback story with a 45-14 victory in the opening NFL wildcard playoff game on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Flacco was brought out of semi-retirement by the Browns after they lost three quarterbacks to injury and a run of four straight wins had propelled the Browns into the post-season.
But there was to be no Hollywood ending for the former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl-winning quarterback, with Flacco throwing two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, as the impressive Texans ran away with the game in the second half.
Stroud, drafted out of Ohio State last year with the number two overall pick, has had an outstanding debut season, leading the Texans to a 10-7 record, and he was faultless in throwing for 274 yards, completing 16 of 21 passes with no interceptions or sacks.
It began so well for Flacco, who was without a team until late November after he was released in the off-season by the New York Jets.
He led the Browns on a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended in Kareem Hunt’s one-yard touchdown run to put Cleveland ahead 7-3.
Houston responded immediately with a swift, four-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in Stroud finding Nico Collins short left who powered into the corner of the end zone.
Flacco put his side back in front with a clever shovel pass to Hunt who ran in for an 11-yard score.
Once again, though, Houston bounced back — Stroud found Brevin Jordan to his right and he worked some space before sprinting home for a superb 76-yard touchdown.
The Texans extended their lead to 24-14 at the end of the half when Stroud showed great awareness to spin to his right, finding space and time to throw deep to Dalton Schultz for a 37-yard score.
Both quarterbacks had looked composed and efficient in the opening half but then came the two ‘pick sixes’ that ruined Flacco and the Browns’ dream of a deep playoff run.
Under pressure, Flacco attempted to throw the ball out of play but his effort was intercepted by Steven Nelson, who gleefully charged 82 yards for the touchdown.
Then a Flacco pass intended for Harrison Bryant was snaffled up by Christian Harris, who returned it 36 yards to increase the lead to 38-14.
The game was over when, early in the fourth quarter, Texans running back Devin Singletary spotted a gap and ran unhindered for a 19-yard touchdown.
Stroud was delighted at the win and quick to spread the credit around the team.
“I’m blessed to be playing at a high level right now and we’ve got to just keep it going,” he said. “There’s no me without my teammates, my O-line, my tight ends, my running backs, receivers and my defense. We all put it together.
“When we play complimentary football we’re hard to beat.”
Later on Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins in sub-freezing cold at Arrowhead Stadium.