Rookie Stroud to lead the Texans against playoff-tested Joe Flacco and the Browns

HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Stroud is the only rookie quarterback to make the playoffs this season.

In his first season out of Ohio State, he helped return the Houston Texans to relevance far faster than expected.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco runs off the field at half time of an NFL football game Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

And now the 22-year-old Stroud is set to face soon-to-be-39-year-old Joe Flacco and the Browns in the first game of wild-card weekend.

Stroud didn’t play when the Texans lost to the Browns in December, and Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski says containing the rookie will be a challenge.

Flacco is a former Super Bowl MVP and he’ll be making his 16th playoff start.

A win by the Browns would give him eight playoff road victories, breaking a tie with Tom Brady for the most all-time.