C.J. Stroud Cements Star Status, Astounds Fans as Texans Beat Browns in NFL Playoffs

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C.J. Stroud’s incredible rookie season continued on Saturday as the Houston Texans defeated the Cleveland Browns in the wild card round by the final score of 45-14.

Stroud dissected a Browns secondary that ended the regular season with the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. He finished the afternoon with 274 yards and three touchdowns to go along with zero turnovers. 236 of his yards came in the first half alone.

The former No. 2 overall pick spread the ball all over the field, completing passes to seven different receivers. His top target was Nico Collins, as the 24-year-old reeled in six of his seven targets for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Despite falling in an early 14-10 hole in the second quarter, Stroud helped Houston score 14 consecutive points before halftime to open up a double-digit lead. The Texans’ defense closed out Cleveland’s offense in the second half, returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the third quarter.

Stroud received MVP chants in front of a raucous Houston crowd, becoming the youngest starting quarterback to win a playoff game in NFL history. Fans were amazed by his stellar performance.

The Texans decided to keep Stroud on the sidelines after the team built up a 31-point lead in the fourth quarter, with backup signal-caller Davis Mills entering the game. Houston mustered 356 yards of offense against a team that allowed just 270.2 yards per game in the regular season.

In the Texans’ first appearance in the playoffs since the 2019 season, the team will be advancing to the divisional round. It’s safe to say that the future is bright in Houston with Stroud under center.