Browns - Texans live online: stats, scores and highlights | NFL Playoffs: Wild Card

Let's talk about Stroud

Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud joins a small list of rookie QBs to lead their team to a playoff Game. He's had an outstanding season and is on track to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year by a long shot.

Stroud's first NFL regular season

The Texans made the right choice when they made Stroud the second overall pick in the NFL Draft last April. His 4,108 passing yards rank third among all rookie quarterbacks in NFL History. In fact, he was one of just nine quarterbacks to surpass the 4,000 mark this season.

In the Texans' win over the Colts in Week 18, Stroud threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, becoming just the third player in NFL history to lead the league in both passing yards per game (273.9) and touchdown/interception ratio (4.6) in the same season. The other two were Tom Brady and Joe Montana. 

As few rookie QBs as there have been who led their team to the post season, even fewer have won a playoff Game. But Stroud could join that short list today too.

No. 4 Texans vs No. 5 Browns

Although the Texans are in the postseason and won their division, they accomplished both of those things by the skin of their teeth at the last moment in Week 18. It could have easily been the Colts. But here we are.

The Browns clinched their playoff berth in Week 17, though they came in second in their division behind the Ravens. Still, that gave them the opportunity to rest their starters in the final week while Houston's fought to make it to the postseason.

What happened last time the Browns and Texans met?

It wasn't long ago that the Browns and Texans played each other at NRG Stadium. That game on Christmas Eve ended in a 36-22 win for Cleveland. Granted, the Texans were without rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, which does make a difference. He threw for the second-most yards per game and ended the regular season sixth overall in passer rating. 

Still, it won't be an easy win for Houston. Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is quite familiar with the NFL playoffs and is 5-0 in Wild Card games. When he and the Browns beat the Texans in Week 16, he and WR Amari Cooper connected for a franchise record of 265 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Honestly, neither of these teams was supposed to make it this far. And neither one is going to be ready to call it quits. It's going to be a good Game today in Houston! 

Welcome!

Good afternoon, everyone and a happy Wild Card Weekend to you! 

Welcome to our live coverage of the first of the Wild Card playoffs between the AFC South champs Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns.

The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET from NRG Stadium in Houston, TX and we'll be here to bring you all the latest scores, stats, highlights, and commentary. So get the nachos and beer ready. It's playoffs time.