HOUSTON – Saturday’s playoff game between the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns has begun.
The game kicked off at 3:30 p.m. and is broadcasting on KPRC 2.
1st Quarter
The Texans opened up a 10-7 lead after the first quarter, retaking the lead on a C.J. Stroud touchdown pass to wide receiver Nico Collins, marking their ninth score together this season.
The Texans scored first on a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal when Stroud’s end zone pass to Robert Woods fell incomplete.
The Browns answered on a Kareem Hunt touchdown run set up by a long pass from Joe Flacco to tight end David Njoku.
Flacco, about to turn 39 and the oldest quarterback in the postseason, has completed 9 of 10 passes for 129 yards.
Stroud is 6 of 10 for 107 yards.
Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil appeared to injured his left leg and is being examined in the blue medical tent. He walked slowly off the field under his own power.
2nd Quarter
Behind the strength of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s right arm, the AFC South champions have built a 24-14 halftime lead over the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card playoff game at raucous NRG Stadium.
Stroud has been dynamic, passing for 236 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 151.0 passer rating on 11 of 16 passing.
He has connected four times for 86 yards with wide receiver Nico Collins on five targets with one touchdown
Tight end Brevin Jordan had a 76-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown that marks the longest play of the season for the Texans and the longest touchdown in franchise history.
Tight end Dalton Schultz capped the scoring on a 37-yard throw from Stroud, who has a nearly perfect passer rating.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner has outdueled Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, who has completed 15 of 19 throws for 197 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He has struck deep a few times, including a 45-yard pass to tight end David Njoku and a 47-yard throw to tight end Harrison Bryant.
3rd Quarter
The Texans are running away with this game and are poised to defeat the Cleveland Browns and advance to the AFC divisional round.
They lead the Browns, 38-14, behind a pair of pick-sixes as cornerback Steven Nelson returned a Joe Flacco interception 82 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing Browns drive, linebacker Christian Harris returned an interception 36 yards for another touchdown.
Stroud has completed 15 of 20 passes for 263 yards for three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 156.2 passer rating.
Wide receiver Nico Collins leads the Texans with six receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Nickel back Desmond King leads the defense with 10 tackles through three quarters, and linebacker Blake Cashman has nine tackles.
Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil remains in the game after having his knee checked out in the first half.
Starting linebacker Denzel Perryman left the game with a rib injury and is questionable to return.
And wide receiver Noah Brown was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
4th Quarter
Texans increase lead to 45-14 over Browns with 13 minutes left in 4th quarter.
The Houston Texans defeat the Cleveland Browns 45-14 to advance to the AFC divisional round.