In the opening game of the NFL Playoffs, the Cleveland Browns’ vaunted defense was ripped apart in the 1st half against rookie sensation C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans offense. The good news for the Browns was quarterback Joe Flacco played clean football and helped keep them to within a 10-point halftime deficit.
Joe Flacco’s brutal pair of pick-6s turned Browns-Texans into NFL Playoffs rout
Flacco threw two touchdowns in the third quarter... to the Texans.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Then the third quarter happened, and Flacco-mania rapidly unraveled.
In good position to cut the deficit to one possession, Flacco was pressured by Derek Barnett and looked to be throwing the ball away. Unfortunately for him, the pass landed where only Texans cornerback Steven Nelson was able to catch the ball. Fielding it almost like a punt, Nelson picked off Flacco and took it back for a backbreaking 82-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing possession and faced with 4th and 2 down by 17, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski went for it deep in his own territory. This time it was a clean pocket for Flacco, but his telegraphed throw to Harrison Bryant was read by linebacker Christian Harris, who joined the pick-6 party.
Flacco’s final 3rd quarter possession ended with a 4th down sack and a turnover on downs. Without touching the ball on offense for over 10 minutes of game time, the Texans increased their lead from 24-14 to 38-14. The turnover on downs resulted in another Texan touchdown to make it 45-14 early in the 4th quarter.
While Flacco did his part to come out of semi-retirement to help get the Browns into the playoffs, he’s also thrown 10 interceptions since joining the team in Week 13. Four of them have turned into pick-6s, and the pair thrown against the Texans turned an entertaining, competitive game into a blowout.
A year removed from a 3-13-1 season, Demeco Ryans’ Texans will advance to the AFC Divisional Round in his first season as head coach.
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