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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
With the playoff matchups for the NFL Divisional round set, there were plenty of upsets that put the “wild” in Wild Card weekend. From the first-ever No. 7-seed victory to the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year dominating, let’s take a look at Cinderella stories heading into the next round of the playoffs, and how they got here.
Starting with the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud seems to have secured the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award after dominating the Cleveland Browns Saturday afternoon. While the Texans were the higher seed with home-field advantage, the Browns entered the game as favorites and with a better record.
Stroud came out firing against a Browns defense that was number one in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per game. The rookie QB showed veteran poise in the pocket, standing tall with the pressure the Cleveland pass rush brought.
Stroud elevated his game to the next level on the big stage, throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns in his playoff debut.
“This is like a dream come true,” Stroud said following the Texans’ 45-14 whomping of the Browns. “Just having another week to go at it with my brothers is a blessing, I’m super excited for this team and the city of Houston.”
While Stroud will deservedly garner most of the headlines, it should not be forgotten the impact the defense made in the game that changed the dynamic. Two pick-sixes for a defense that was a little bit above average all season shifted the momentum in the Texans’ favor. Dreams of a Joe Flacco-Ravens grudge match were quickly wiped away as Houston dominated on both sides of the ball.
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