David Kull
The Houston Texans host the Cleveland Browns in the first game of NFL wild-card weekend, and the first of two games on Saturday.
The Texans-Browns matchup kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET and is a battle between teams led by the NFL Coach of the Year favorites, Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski and Houston’s DeMeco Ryans.
Stefanski has the Cleveland Browns (11-6) back in the playoffs for the second time in four years, while Ryans was able to turn around a 3-13-1 team from 2022 a year ago and guide the Texans (10-7) to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The game is a rematch of their Week 16 game in Houston, one that the Cleveland Browns dominated, 36-22. But rookie sensation C.J. Stroud was not available for the game because he was on concussion protocol.
That won’t be the case in the rematch, with Stroud available and ready to extend his record-setting rookie season.
Here are four bold predictions for the Cleveland Browns-Houston Texans wild-card game.
Related: NFL Power Rankings
Joe Flacco will pass for more yards than C.J. Stroud
The old man can still sling it. Flacco, who became the Cleveland Browns’ fourth starting quarterback a little more than a month ago, has averaged more than 320 yards passing per game in his five starts, the final four resulting in victories for the Browns. In the last meeting against Houston, he threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Stroud didn’t play in the previous encounter. Instead, it was Davis Mills and Case Keenum sharing the load. Now with Stroud back in the lineup, you’d think Stroud would have more success, right? Well, the only problem here is that Stroud is playing against the Browns’ No. 1 rated pass defense. Flacco isn’t. Helping the Browns’ cause against Stroud is the fact safety Grant Delpit will be back in the lineup.
So, while Stroud will be struggling for almost every yard, Flacco should find open receivers with regularity, especially Amari Cooper, who scorched Houston for a career-best 265 yards. Flacco should surpass 300 again, but not Stroud.
Related: NFL QB rankings
Flacco will also throw two interceptions
Although Flacco will have success against the Texans’ defense, he’s been somewhat prone to throwing interceptions. He’s thrown eight picks in five games, with two of them coming against Houston.
Expect him to throw two more interceptions in the rematch. The picks will keep the Texans in the game until the end and give Stroud a shorter field to work with.
Related: NFL defense rankings
Will Anderson Jr. will finish with more sacks than Myles Garrett
Garrett has been banged up with shoulder and hamstring injuries that have affected his production. Although he finished the season with 14 sacks, he’s only registered one in the past five games. And he’ll be going up against Laremy Tunsil, one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
On the other side, Anderson is completing a solid rookie season that could earn him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He has seven sacks, but four have come in the last three games. Even though he’s dealing with a high ankle sprain, Anderson will to Flacco more than Garrett gets to Stroud.
Related: NFL sack leaders
Neither team will rush for more than 100 yards
This game is going to be won or lost through the air. Neither team is particularly great running the football; the Cleveland Browns, which has been without leading rusher Nick Chubb for the majority of the season, are ranked 12th on the ground, while the Houston Texans are even worse at 23rd.
Jerome Ford has been the Browns’ leading back with a not-too-spectacular 813 yards, averaging four yards per carry. Devin Singletary, the Texans’ top back, has only been slightly better (898 yards, 4.2 per carry).
It’ll be an aerial show at NRG Stadium in Houston, with Flacco and Stroud trading airstrikes. Both sides should throw it more than 35 times, meaning the only way either team breaks 100 yards on the ground is if one of the backs breaks a long run.
PREDICTED SCORE: Cleveland Browns 30, Houston Texans 22
