The Houston Texans continue their Cinderella run in the 2023 season after blowing out the Cleveland Browns in their Wild Card round matchup.
The Texans vs Browns wildcard game was dubbed the "feel good" showdown as the two started the season as the low-tier dwellers who proved naysayers wrong. They also have quarterbacks who serve as inspiration as underdogs who overcame the odds.
The Browns came to the match as slight favorites (-2.00) despite the game being played in Houston.
Coach DeMeco Ryans just wouldn't let down the supporters at home. They did not just cover the -2 odds. They convincingly defeated their visitors and proved that they belong in this stage even if they are still in the rebuilding phase.
How did they manage to pull off the win?
There are many factors-ones you see on the stat sheet and other intangibles-but these stand out.
1. Stinging defense in the second half
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is one of the notable feel-good stories in this matchup. Play-calling at 38, he had the nation on alert after leading his team to four straight wins as a mid-season signing.
However, his story ended at the hands of the Texans as he tossed pick-sixes on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter.
Read more: Why Jerod Mayo Is the Right Coach for the New England Patriots
But that game was not lost due to those plays. The Browns' defense had them on clamps since the kickoff.
The hosts must have remembered what the Browns did to them in their Week 16 meeting.
Cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr., Steven Nelson, and linebacker Christian Harris teamed up to paralyze the Browns offense led by Flacco and Amaric Cooper. Nelson and Harris tallied pick-sixes to put the game out of reach by the third quarter.
2. CJ Stroud is a star
The super rookie continues his sensational season after recording 16 of 21 passes for 274 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interception.
Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett put it best on how Stroud dismantled their game plan.
"He got the ball out on time...mostly just quicks and being given enough time to get it out. He wasn't too flustered getting to his spots, being able to slip through and find the gap for him to throw."
In short, Stroud was too composed to be rattled by a better defense, a team that limited them to just 22 points in their first meeting. The rookie missed that game.
The playoffs are where men are separated from the boys. This game showed Stroud coming of age early.
Coach Ryans only had high praises for Stroud, saying, "he has the shoulders to carry that weight."
3. Efficient haymaker offense
The Texans' offense kept the Browns defense guessing. The team had at least six plays that went at least 21 yards.
Stroud credited offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik for devising various attacks for the game.
Among those that stood out are Devin Singletary's 19-yard touchdown and the connection between Stroud and Nico Collins that led to a 15-yard touchdown pass.
The best part about this offense is that it was efficient, with the team not allowing any sacks. Collins was the most efficient as he recorded a game-high 96 yards by only making six catches.
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