Rookie C.J. Stroud became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game after throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and the Houston Texans returned two interceptions by Joe Flacco for scores in a 45–14 rout of the Cleveland Browns in a wild-card matchup Saturday.
Stroud, the second overall pick in last April’s draft, is also the highest-drafted rookie QB to win in the postseason. He picked apart Cleveland’s vaunted defense, throwing touchdown passes of 15, 76 and 37 yards.
At 22 years, 102 days old, he passed Michael Vick, who was 22 years, 192 days old in 2002 when his Falcons defeated the Packers.
Stroud threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns before halftime as the Texans built a 24-14 lead. The defense then took over, with Steven Nelson and Christian Harris returning interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive drives in the third quarter to extend the lead to 38-14.
For the first time since 2019, Stroud’s stellar play and first-year coach DeMeco Ryans’ leadership were back in the playoffs, transforming the Texans (11-7) from NFL laughingstock to AFC South champions.
Flacco, who turns 39 in three days, came off the bench and went 4-1 as a starter to end the regular season and lead the Browns (11-7) to just their third playoff appearance since their rebirth of the expansion in 1999, but second in four seasons under coach Kevin Stefanski.
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Playing in his 17th postseason game, but first in nine years, Flacco was unable to continue his magical run under the bright lights of the playoffs.