Notebook: Texans Show How 'Special' 2023 Has Been in Wild Card Win vs. Browns

Led by Coach of the Year candidate DeMeco Ryans, the Houston Texans showed how special the 2023 season has been in a playoff victory against the Browns.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans advanced to the Divisional Round of the Playoffs Saturday night amid a 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. However, they also bounced back from a Christmas Eve defeat to the same team.

"Our team is special," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "God has blessed us. It was an outstanding performance by everyone. I knew they were ready on Tuesday. They were focused and locked in. They went out and put the work in."

The Texans played a complete game on all three levels. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had a record-breaking performance, finishing with 274 yards while completing 16 out of 21 pass attempts. He also added three touchdowns while becoming the youngest quarterback in league history to record a postseason victory. 

Stroud dominated the league’s best defense in the win. Ironically, Stroud had an impressive performance with Houston's former franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson watching on the sidelines of NRG Stadium.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during a 2024 AFC Wild Card game at NRG Stadium / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

When the Texans drafted Stroud a year after trading Watson to the Browns, the former Ohio State prospect vowed to lead the franchise back to relevancy.

"C.J. is the reason why we are in this position," Ryans said. "He is a special young man. He is a special player. He continues to shine no matter how big the moment is. Our whole team is leaning on him, and he has the shoulders to carry it."

A moment of redemption for Brevin Jordan:

One of Stroud's best moments of the night came at the start of the second quarter. Houston trailed the Browns 14-10 when Stroud connected with tight end Brevin Jordan for a 76-yard touchdown.

The play showcased Stroud's ability to find an open man with his quick reads. However, it was a moment of redemption for Jordan.

"I was out there doing an interview and was very emotional," Jordan said. "Last year was hard. It was hard for everyone. For us to be in this position with the hard work and the commitment everyone has had on all three levels, we worked hard for this." 

Jordan entered last season as the favored to take the helm as the Texans' top tight end. His rookie season was promising, as the former University of Miami prospect caught 20 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns in 2021.

But halfway through his second season, Jordan found himself spending more time on the sideline than taking snaps on Sundays. An early season ankle injury caused Jordan to miss three consecutive games. Halfway through the season, three healthy scratches forced Jordan back on the sideline.

In December 2022, Jordan exclusively told Texans Daily it hurt not suiting up consistently but refused to drown in sorrow. Nearly 13 months later, Jordan was the recipient of a play that set the tone for Houston's first postseason victory since 2019.

"It was special, Brevin has been special for us all year," Ryans said. "He turned the wheels on. I think everyone was running down the sideline with him. Brevin had done an awesome job. There is no play in his career bigger than that play today."

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Christian Harris shines amid dominating defensive performance:

The last time Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper played on the Texans' home turf, they dominated. Flacco threw for 368 yards, while Cooper accounted for 265 yards on 11 catches. Three weeks after their Week 16 domination, Houston's defense made the Browns' quarterback-wide-receiver tandem non-existent.

Each player who stepped onto the field played a role in helping the Texans' defensive dominance. But second-year linebacker Christian Harris may have had his most impactful game of his career.

"Christian has been locked-in all week,' Ryans said. "It was a special moment for me because I've seen his growth week after week. It was just another cool moment for our young guys to have this type of game that they will remember for the rest of their lives."

Harris finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. His best play came with 4:06 left in the third quarter. He recorded his first career interception, which resulted in Houston's second pick-six of the game. 

Harris' on-field production was a small sample size of how great the defense played against the Browns. They held Cooper to 59 yards on four catches. Flacco finished with 307 yards after going 34 of 46. The Texans also added four sacks in the win.