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.
Cleveland won, 36-22, with the game being more of a blowout than the final score indicated.
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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.
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.
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.