C.J. Stroud and the Texans handled the Browns last week, but will they have the same luck against the formidable Ravens? (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
The Houston Texans, led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, have all the good vibes right now. They shocked the Cleveland Browns in the wild card round, winning 45-14 and looking more experienced than the young team they are.
But the Baltimore Ravens aren’t the Browns. They’re one of the most formidable teams in the NFL. They don’t have 38-year-old Joe Flacco making a late-career surge as their quarterback. They have Lamar Jackson, a dual-threat QB and the likely MVP, leading their offense. He’s got the legs. He’s got the arm. And he’s a whole lot harder to sack than Flacco.
The Texans will have their hands full, but so will the Ravens. The Texans have good vibes, but that’s not all they’re built on. Stroud is looking like a legit franchise quarterback after just 18 professional games. The Browns’ defense, one of the best in the league, had a lot of trouble putting a lid on Stroud and Houston’s offense.
Which team will come out on top? Follow along as Yahoo Sports provides the latest news, scores and highlights from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
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You can’t make this up: Jackson is sacked immediately again on the next play for a loss of 13 yards.
Ravens open up their drive by letting Lamar Jackson get sacked again.
Fairbairn’s 47-yard field goal attempt is NO GOOD.
Nice conversion on third and long from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins for 29 yards! Collins goes 16 yards on the next play to bring the Texans in field goal range.
We’re still tied at the two-minute warning for the half.
This game is penalties galore. Another false start, this time on the Texans. They’ll lose 5 yards on their third play of the drive.
Oof, back-to-back incomplete passes for Lamar Jackson on the Raven’s third three-and-out of the game.
We are TIED after Texans wideout Steven Sims returned the punt for a 67-yard touchdown.
Scratch that: Ravens get a 5-yard penalty of their own for a false start on everyone other than their center.
It gets better for the Ravens: Houston is hit with a pre-snap penalty for 5 yards.
Kurt Hinish sacks Lamar Jackson for -7 yards. Justice Hill answers with a 6-yard run.
Tough drive for the Texans there, just 9 yards (all from Devin Singletary) in 5 plays before punting.
Lamar Jackson finds Nelson Agholor for a 3-yard TD pass. Ravens lead 10-3 with 9:14 remaining in second quarter. That was a 11-play, 76-yard drive. Todd Monken has schemed guys open all year in the red zone.
It looked like C.J. Stroud responded nicely after a three-and-out. He hit Devin Singletary on a 26-yard pass to get into Ravens territory. But this isn’t the Browns’ defense. An intentional grounding penalty as a result of pressure killed the drive forcing a punt.
Justin Tucker made a 53-yard FG in frosty conditions look like a layup to put the Ravens up early, 3-0.
