Houston, there’s no problem with the Texans.
They pound the Browns 45-14 in the first game of wild-card weekend for their first playoff victory since 2019. And who better to get it done than the rookie CJ Stroud.
It was a back-and-forth start. Four lead changes and four touchdowns in five minutes make it midway through the second quarter. While the Browns trailed by only 10 at the half, it all came crashing down after play resumed. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco threw back-to-back pick sixes as Houston became out of reach.
Stroud shows why he should be named the AFC Rookie of the Year. In his first playoff game, he threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He becomes the youngest starting quarterback to win a postseason game.
Meanwhile, the Browns’ loss caped off what they hoped to be deep postseason run. Flacco, who led the Browns to four-straight wins and an unlikely playoff appearances, finishes with 307 passing yards. It’s the first playoff road loss and first wild-card loss in his career.
The Texans await their next opponent.
MORE: Who do Texans play next?
The Sporting News tracked the wild-card playoff game between the Browns and Texans, including results and highlights from the game.
Browns vs. Texans score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Browns | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Texans | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
Browns vs. Texans results, highlights from NFL wild-card playoffs
All times Eastern.
Final: Browns 14, Texans 45
7: 23 p.m. – That’ll do it! the Texans advance with their first playoff win since 2019. Cleveland heads home.
7:19 p.m. – Only two minutes are left until the Texans make history.
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 45
6:56 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Singletary brings it home! The Texans score yet another to make it a 31-point lead at the beginning of the fourth. It’s all fun now for Houston.
ANOTHER ONE 😤 pic.twitter.com/MSwcZsi2Rn
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
End of third quarter: Browns 14, Texans 38
6:47 p.m. – Cleveland tries for it on 4th and 6, but Flacco is sacked for the third time. It’s a turnover on downs as the Texans take control of the ball at the 50.
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 38
6:37 p.m. INTERCEPTION – Back-to-back pick-six’s for the home squad! The Browns go for it on 4th and 2, but it’s a big mistake. Flacco is intercepted by Christian Harris, and the game looks out of reach for Cleveland.
READ THAT ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Ubhy0LFLTr
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 31
6:31 p.m. INTERCEPTION – That’s a pick six! Flacco throws the first interception of the night, and it’s caught by Steven Nelson for an 82-yard return. Houston can’t be stopped.
2️⃣1️⃣2️⃣1️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/YXXK1iLNQ5
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
6:27 p.m. – Big first down for the Browns. Flacco connects with Cooper to move to Houston’s 44-yard line.
6:19 p.m. – Thirty minutes remain for one team’s season. Will the rookie-led Texans send the Browns home, or can Cleveland complete a comeback on the road?
6:01 p.m. – At the half, Stroud has 236 passing yards and three touchdowns for Houston’s lead. What a start for the rookie’s playoff career.
Halftime: Browns 14, Texans 24
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 24
5:56 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – On the dot! Schultz’s first catch of the day is a 37-yard score from Stroud, which gives the Texans the largest lead of the evening just before halftime.
AIR IT OUT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NjLQxykfDa
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
5:54 p.m. – The two minute warning has been issued. Texans have the ball and are looking to score from the Browns’ 37.
5:34 p.m. – Derek Barnett reaches Flacco for the first sack of the night! The Browns end their scoring run and go three-and out.
5:31 p.m – What a way to start the postseason.
4 TDs in the last 5 minutes.
4 lead changes already.PLAYOFF. FOOTBALL. pic.twitter.com/LEvxcM24sD
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2024
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 17
5:26 p.m. – Brevin Jordan is home free! He breaks away for a 76-yard run and the Texans are ahead. It’s the fourth lead change of the game, and we’re only in the second quarter.
9️⃣ SAID BET 🤝 pic.twitter.com/HmPHsMxalW
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
BROWNS 14, TEXANS 10
5:22 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Twice as nice! Hunt gets his second touchdown of the game on a shovel pass from Flacco. Cleveland retakes the lead early in the second.
shovel play ran to perfection 🤌#CLEvsHOU on NBC & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/aEiahxmgOo
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 13, 2024
End of first quarter: Browns 7, Texans 10
BROWNS 7, TEXANS 10
5:11 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Houston, we have a problem, and his name is Nico Collins. He finishes off the four-play drive in the end zone. The home team retakes the lead as the first quarter closes out.
MAKE WAY FOR 12 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ftaPrZ9GH4
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
BROWNS 7, TEXANS 3
5:04 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Hunt to the house! He leaps over the goal line for the first touchdown of the NFL playoffs. Cleveland leads by four with two minutes left in the frame.
the patented @Kareemhunt7 goal line leap 🔝#CLEvsHOU on NBC pic.twitter.com/e3ANrqXM2S
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 13, 2024
5:00 p.m. – A big throw from Flacco to Houston’s 30! The vet connects with Njoku for 45 yards.
Joey sends it deep for a 45 yard gain 👏#CLEvsHOU on NBC pic.twitter.com/peDZEMWOKW
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 13, 2024
BROWNS 0, TEXANS 3
4:56 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Ka’imi Fairbairn gets it done from the 21-yard line. The Texans get the first score of the game with 5:29 to go in the first.
4:52 p.m. – Nico Collins goes deep! Stroud finds the receiver for 38-yards, and the Texans are at the 3.
THAT CONNECTION 🚀 pic.twitter.com/1cdaDwiAOo
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
4:46 p.m. – Drops by Dalton Schultz and Noah Brown result in little movement from the Texans offense. They punt, and Kris Boyd and D’Angelo Ross combine to down the Browns’ receiver inside the ten.
4:37 p.m. – It’s a slow start for Cleveland. Four plays, and the Texans take over.
4:34 p.m. – Last time he was in Texas, Amari Cooper had a Browns’ record 265 receiving yards. The WR is back after missing two games.
4:30 p.m. – Houston is ready.
It will be full at kickoff. It will be a dominant Texans crowd. pic.twitter.com/VWNIelpJgR
— John P. Lopez (@LopezOnSports) January 13, 2024
3:32 p.m. – The Dawg Pound is showing up and showing out with one hour to go at NRG Stadium.
This almost brought me to tears.
Proud of Cleveland, always. pic.twitter.com/mpDtF3a19t
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) January 13, 2024
3:00 p.m. – Inactives for the first NFL playoff game of the season have been released. Those missing out for on the Texans-Browns matchup are as follows.
Inactives for #CLEvsHOU ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Ig5ADGM3NN
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
our inactives for today’s game pic.twitter.com/hcqzS4cJDZ
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 13, 2024
2:53 p.m. – CJ Stroud leads the league in passing yards per game and touchdowns to interceptions. What a season for the No. 2 pick from Ohio State. And he isn’t done yet.
What a regular season for the rookie 🫡
🔴 4,108 yards ⁰🔴 23 Touchdowns ⁰🔴 100.8 Passer Rating pic.twitter.com/MTxsbHvPGI
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 12, 2024
2:32 p.m. – The comeback quarterback has never lost a wild-card game. A win in Houston would be the Browns’ second playoff victory since 1994.
“This is what you live for”. Joe Flacco’s message to his team this week.#CLEvsHOU 📺: NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/RJU6JhHtCh
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 13, 2024
Browns vs. Texans start time
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 13
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The NFL playoffs kick off with the Browns vs. Texans on Saturday, Jan. 13. Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston will be at 4:30 p.m. ET.
What channel is Browns vs. Texans on today?
The Browns-Texans wild-card game will be the first of three broadcast on NBC. For Cleveland residents and those who prefer streaming, the game can be found on Peacock and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will be in the booth while Kathryn Tappen reports from the sidelines.
