Houston Texans completely swept off the Cleveland Browns with their exceptional offensive display with the likes of their rookie starting QB CJ Stroud. The game’s intensity even had Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes locked in on the game, moments before his own matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
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CJ Stroud surpassed Michael Vick to become the youngest QB to win a playoff game at just 22 years and 102 days old. Houston’s starting QB led his team to a 45-14 win against an in-form Cleveland Browns. His performance in the game was so formidable that before halftime, he had thrown for 236 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Texans to a 24-14 lead.
The whole game was a playoff-worthy show, and it kept the football fans including Patrick Mahomes glued onto the screen. Mahomes arrived early at Arrowhead Stadium, standing alone on the sidelines while the stadium staff busily prepared the field for the playoff game against the Miami Dolphins.
Braving the minus 30-degree temperatures at Arrowhead, Mahomes stood out in the open, observing the Texans vs. Browns game on the jumbotron. Hours later, the Kansas City Chiefs replicating Texans’ victory, defeated the Dolphins 26-7 in a one-sided game.
Houston’s offense dismantled Cleveland’s defense, as Nico Collins, Brevin Jordan, and Dalton Schultz, connecting with CJ Stroud, each scored a touchdown in the first two quarters. Furthermore, Houston’s defense proved equally tough by intercepting two of Joe Flacco’s passes and returning them for touchdowns in consecutive drives during the third quarter. If the chess pieces fall a certain way, there’s a chance Mahomes could be going head-to-head against Stroud in the next game.
Can CJ Stroud and the Texans Meet the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round?
The Kansas City Chiefs will have a tough challenge ahead if they face the Texans, who are in great form with a three-game winning streak. Many critics are already considering Houston a strong contender for the Super Bowl because of their overall impressive performance. Recently, Chad Johnson on his podcast “Nightcap” shared that the Chiefs might be cautious about facing the Texans, especially due to CJ Stroud and his team’s offense’s standout performance.
If the Bills fall to the Steelers tomorrow, the Chiefs will be hosting the Texans. No matter the outcome, it will be very interesting to watch two QBs at the top of their games go head to head, with mile-high stakes.
CJ Stroud in his rookie season has delivered what the Texans were seeking after moving on with their former star QB Deshaun Watson. Stroud started in 15 games and completed 319 of 499 passes while throwing for 4108 yards, 23 touchdown passes, and only 5 interceptions. With the recent win, the second overall pick in the 2023 drafts, CJ Stroud apart from being the youngest, also became the highest-drafted rookie QB to win in the postseason.
