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Texans ‘Have No Chance?!’ C.J. Stroud Stellar in 45-14 Playoff Blowout vs. Browns

Houston Texans ‘Have No Chance?!’ C.J. Stroud to Stellar in 45-14 Playoff Blowout vs. Browns

Mike Fisher

In this story:

The rookie QB’s quiet confidence was, as it turns out, well-placed.

That’s how we’re going to characterize the approach offered up by Houston Texans rookie leader C.J. Stroud, who when confronted this week on a live national TV appearance with the belief that the Texans will be no match today in the playoff opener against Cleveland coolly replied …

“We have no chance? Alright.”

“Alright” is right.

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Stroud was pulled from his first playoff game with 9:22 left and a 31-point lead. That is right. He left when Houston was winning 45-14. … which is the stunning final score.

His final line: 16-of-21 for 274 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 157.2 passer rating. That's a 76% completion number.

That setup occurred on the Pat McAfee show - which took a break from allowing Aaron Rodgers to bloviate on national affairs to talk football - and some are painting Stroud’s response as being crafted by an “Us Against the World” strategy.

Our take? After having one of the greatest rookie quarterback seasons ever, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns and keying a franchise turnaround that has Houston in the playoffs for the first time since 2019?

This isn’t “crafted.” This isn’t a “strategy.”

It’s a C.J. way of life.

The no-chance concept was, on its face, inane. And we said so before kickoff. Cleveland was a 1.5-point favorite in today’s afternoon matchup; that’s what oddsmakers think of Houston’s “chance.”

Oops.

The Texans went 10-7, won their division and are at home. The Browns, revitalized by off-the-couch QB Joe Flacco, about to turn 39, subbed for the injured Deshaun Watson (remember him?!) and went 11-6.

Browns 'Bad Matchup' for C.J. Stroud?

Outside of the ancient Flacco, this edition of the Browns had no particular playoff pedigree, just as was the case in Houston.

But Stroud now has experience. Houston now has a step toward pedigree.

“No chance”? Alright.

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983, is the Texas-based author of two best-selling books on the NFL.