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Browns vs. Texans: AFC wild card playoff game live score updates, highlights, reactions

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Browns vs. Texans: AFC wild card playoff game live score updates, highlights, reactions


CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are on the road for their AFC wild card matchup at 4:30 p.m. today in Houston.

Since the franchise’s return in 1999, this marks their third trip to the postseason, the last two coming during the 2002 and 2020 seasons.

They’ve already met the Texans in Week 16, where the Browns dominated, 36-22. But the difference is former Buckeyes standout and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will be playing after sitting out the last matchup with a concussion.

The Browns defense meets a Texans offense that has given up the fewest turnovers on the season (14). During the regular season they ranked tied 22nd in rushing yards per game (96.9), seventh in passing yards per game (245.5), and tied 13th in points per game (22.2).

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Cleveland’s offense meets a Texans defense that ranked sixth in rushing yards allowed per game (96.6), 23rd in passing yards allowed per game (234.1), and 11th in points allowed per game (20.8) during the regular season.

Stay with us during the game for updates and highlights. Refresh this page to see the latest updates:

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4Q-0:00

The Texans will advance to the Divisional round as they defeat the Browns, 45-14.

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4Q-8:17

The Texans done brought out backup David Mills with over eight minutes left in the game.

It’s over.

4Q-9:22

Njoku drops a pass, that tendency sneaking up at the wrong time.

4Q-13:27

Incoming “Thank you Fans” post from the Browns’ social media admin.

Houston giving Cleveland a taste of their own medicine from the blowout in Week 16, as Singletary takes it in for 19 yards.

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Texans lead, 45-14.

3Q-1:27

This is a massacre, as Flacco is sacked again for a loss of 13 yards, by Harris, who took back a pick six.

3Q-4:06

On a fourth down attempt, the Browns went with the ol reliable short out for Harrison Bryant, which is intercepted again. This time by Christian Harris who takes it back for 36 yards.

Cleveland, we have a problem.

Texans lead 38-14.

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3Q-6:05

Texans still have a hold on the game as Flacco tries to force a pass as he’s nearly sacked, but is intercepted by Steven Nelson who takes it back for an 82-yard pick six.

This game might be over before we know it.

Turnovers biting the Browns at the wrong time.

Texans lead, 31-14.

3Q-8:50

Pivotal third down completion as Flacco finds Cooper on the corner route for 16 yards and the first down.

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3Q-12:21

The Browns come out strong in the second half as Owusu-Koramoah racks up his ninth combined tackle as he keeps Collins to a loss of one yard.

2Q-0:00

Houston’s Will Anderson ends the half with a sack on Flacco.

Momentum is hard to beat, and Houston has all of it going into the half.

Cleveland’s offensive line has been running thin for majority of the season, but is really striking at the wrong time.

Texans lead, 24-14 at halftime and will receive the second half kickoff.

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2Q-1:11

Houston’s play action goes successful as Stroud finds Schultz downfield for the untouched 37 yard touchdown.

Texans lead, 24-14.

2Q-2:17

Saved by the flag.

Singletary’s 23 yard run is called back as Houston’s right guard Shaq Mason is called for a holding penalty on Sione Takitaki.

2Q-3:00

Owusu-Koramoah with another read as he stops Singletary for a loss of one yard, his eighth tackle of the first half.

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2Q-5:00

Singletary runs outside left for six yards and the first down. Singletary (38) has single handedly out rushed the

2Q-5:00

Singletary runs outside left for six yards and the first down. Singletary (38) has single handedly out rushed the Browns’ run game (22).

This Browns run defense has struggled.

2Q-7:18

The Texans’ defense is upping the blitz, though Flacco completed the six yard pass to Njoku, it’s not enough for a first down.

Browns punt again.

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2Q-8:56

If Stroud’s pass to Collins was caught, that would’ve been a touchdown.

The Browns secondary caught a break as Stroud’s pass was a little overthrown for Collins, who had a couple steps ahead of Ronnie Hickman Jr.

This forces a Texans’ fourth-down and eventual punt.

2Q-9:35

Owusu-Koramoah lays a couple consecutive hits, first a tackle with Garrett on Dameon Pierce for a loss of one yard, then a solo tackle on Singletary for a loss of two yards.

2Q-11:00

A struggling series as Houston edge rusher Derek Barnett beat Cleveland’s Geron Christian, sacking Flacco in the backfield, and forcing another Browns’ punt.

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The Browns defense has to wake up.

2Q-12:00

This is a boxing match. You get hit, but can you hit harder?

Texans answering back strong with a Stroud connection to Brevin Jordan who takes it downfield for the 76 yard touchdown.

Jordan’s route was opened up as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Ogbo Okoronkwo went at Stroud, opening an open pass to Jordan who took advantage of it.

Alex Wright giving his teammates some words as they circle around each other.

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Texans lead, 17-14.

2Q-12:18

The hometown kid in Hunt came to this game ready, as he’s there for Flacco’s shovel pas and runs past Texans’ defenders for the touchdown.

In his fourth career playoff game, this is his first postseason receiving touchdown, and his second game with multiple touchdowns in one game. The first came in the wild card win over Pittsburgh in the 2020 NFL playoffs, where he recorded two rushing touchdowns.

Browns answer back, 14-10.

2Q-13:40

Flacco’s six-foot-six figure is able to quarterback sneak in for the first down.

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1Q-0:00

Flacco ends the half on a strong note as he finds an open Harrison Bryant down the center who takes it downfield for 47 yards.

Both offenses off to a heck of a start.

Texans lead after one, 10-7.

1Q-0:11

Houston responds quickly in a matter of four plays, the fourth being a completed short pass to Collins who takes it in outside left, in which Juan Thornhill is unable to take him down himself.

Texans lead, 10-3.

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1Q-1:34

Houston’s Singletary comes back with a hard running 29-yarder.

1Q-2:09

Hunt runs it in for the one yard touchdown, and the extra point is complete.

Lineman Nick Harris is at fullback for the extra blocking, per usual in the goal line run package. Everyone expects this for Hunt will run behind Harris. But this time, Harris runs left and distracts the Texans’ defense as Hunt runs right and untouched.

Browns lead 7-3.

1Q-2:50

DeAndre Houston-Carson

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1Q-4:04

Flacco finds Amari Cooper as Cooper goes towards out of bounds for 14 yards, first and goal now for the Browns.

1Q-5:22

The Flacco-David Njoku connection returns as Flacco finds his tight end for 48 yards downfield.

Njoku’s had a trend of racking up big yards in the first quarter. In the Week 17 win over the Jets, Njoku caught 64 of his 134 receiving yards in the first drive alone.

1Q-6:18

Newsome makeup for earlier mess up and keeps Collins from completing a touchdown pass, forcing a Texans’ field goal.

1Q-6:12

Stroud’s run outside left is stopped for only one yard, as Martin Emerson Jr. fought through Beck’s block to stop Stroud going out of bounds.

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1Q-6:18

Cleveland’s blitz works and they cut off Texans’ attempt at a shovel pass from Stroud to Andrew Beck.

Nearly wound up in the hands of Myles Garrett

1Q-7:09

Stroud with another deep ball completion to Collins, this time for 38 yards, positioning them in the red zone.

Seems there was a late switch as Greg Newsome II suddenly ran in front of Collins, due to Texans’ audible switch.

1Q-9:16

Houston broke through Cleveland’s offensive line came out with the blitz and left Flacco to feast for himself, having to get rid of the ball.

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1Q-10:09

Stroud’s pass to Brown again towards the center field is incomplete as Denzel Ward and Juan Thornhill tag team to force a fourth down, leaving Brown a second slow to get up off the field.

1Q-10:14

Stroud’s pass to Noah Brown goes through his hands and would’ve forced a fourth down, but Myles Garrett is called for a defensive offsides penalty.

This Browns defense has now been flagged for a league leading 22 offside penalties.

1Q-11:03

That should’ve been a catch that would’ve taken the Texans further downfield.

Stroud’s pass to Dalton Schultz is dropped, as he took his eyes off the ball for a second.

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1Q-12:18

C.J. Stroud shows Cleveland what they missed out on on his first pass attempt, a 21 yard completion to Nico Collins.

1Q-12:18

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with a good first play for the defense, a tackle on Devin Singletary and keeping him to three yards.

1Q-13:07

Flacco’s short pass to Kareem Hunt is caught but pushed back for a loss of six yards, forcing a Browns’ punt.

1Q-13:59

Ford’s first run attempt is for a loss of five yards.

This Texans’ run defense is one of the better run defenses in the league, ranking top 10 in fewest allowed.

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1Q-14:48

Joe Flacco with a good first play, a completed pass to Jerome Ford who takes it down for 11 yards.

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Cleveland, OH

Guardians Lose Another Horrific Game

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Guardians Lose Another Horrific Game


Somehow, every game recap I write manages to be about an even more abhorrent game than the last. Tonight might take the cake for by far the worst game I have ever had the displeasure of watching. Just an unbelievably awful game start-to-finish. On the bright side, since coming to Minnesota, the Guardians seem to be at least losing a new type of game. Not just your average 1-run loss anymore, we’ve ascended to a new plane of suffering.

This game had everything!

Do you like lackluster starting pitching? Come on down!

Do you like walks? We’ve got a near unlimited supply at a discounted price!

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Do you like using every single reliever in your bullpen but one? Stop on by!

Do you like walkoff losses? We’re running a 2-for-1 special!

Fan of all the above? Then come on down to the Chris Antonetti and co.’s House of Horrors! Unfortunately located on a television set near you.

I’m just going to do everyone a favor and eschew the video evidence that I usually attach to my recaps so that those who either missed the game or wanted to rewatch a pivotal moment could catch up. No one deserves to experience this game once, let alone twice. We’re going to stick to just good old words tonight.

Cecconi was bad today! That’s about all I’m going to say.

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The Guardians scored 3 runs in the top of the 4th on back-to-back homers from Rocchio and Hoskins. If you’ve watched more than 3 Guardians games this year, then I’m sure you can guess what happened next.

Speaking of the 4th inning, Cecconi didn’t manage to get out of it! Final line: 3.2IP 6H 3ER 4K 1BB. Gave up the lead right after the Guardians took it.

Holderman had to pitch in the 4th (yes, fourth) inning to clean up his mess. Holderman was fantastic, and is one of four (I’ll get to the other three in a second) players today who are blameless. He cleaned up Cecconi’s garbage, and then pitched a scoreless 5th on 6 pitches.

Herrin pitched a relatively uneventful 6th, but unfortunately left the game when he was hit on the elbow off a comebacker from Royce Lewis. Shawn Armstrong got the last out of the inning.

All was quiet until the 7th, when beautiful, sweet Chase DeLauter had his 2nd of 2 hits and 2nd of 3 appearances on base tonight. He drove in the go-ahead run with that hit. Then, Rocchio squeezed home Kwan on a great surprise bunt, and even managed to get to first off bad defense from the Twins.

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Then, Armstrong pitched again! Our beloved Armstrong walked Keaschall and Kreidler, only recording one out in between the walks. Sabrowski came in in relief. In what is maybe the worst relief outing I have ever witnessed with my own two eyes, Sabrowski walked THREE batters. Included in 3 of those walks are TWO RBI walks. TWO (2). Dos. Deux. Zwei. Due. Two. TWO. Two of THREE RBI walks issued by the Guardians tonight. Three. Tres. Trois. Drei. Tre. THREE. I cannot emphasize how abhorrent of an evening Sabrowski had tonight. He threw 14 pitches, 2 of which registered as strikes. None of his other 8 pitches were close. He did not record an out. Him being broken isn’t something this team can overcome so he needs to figure it out.

Hunter Gaddis came in and cleaned up that mess, but then left a mess of his own with runners on 2nd and 3rd two batters into the 8th. Enter Cade Smith who had to clean up that mess. And, as a matter of fact, he did so. Brilliantly, I might add. Came in with Twins on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and did not surrender a run. Not a one.

Anyway, we headed to the 9th tied. The Guardians didn’t score. Shocker. So, because of how empty the bullpen was (Aleman having never pitched in back to back days), Matt Festa pitched. In what was, truly, a “put me out of my misery inning”, Festa almost wiggled out of it but, luckily, the defense behind him had our back for a short night. I’m not even mad at Festa. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… Bazzana misplayed a rough hop in the rain and the dirt, and Hoskins failed to scoop what could only be characterized as a play my late 100-year-old grandmother could make. Once again, the Guardians defense gave away easy outs to the Twins. Alan Roden walked it off for the Twins later that inning.

Quick recap of the pitchers used tonight, along with their final lines:

Cecconi: 3.2IP 6H 3ER 4K 1BB

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Holderman: 1.1IP 0H 0ER 0K 0BB

Herrin: 0.2IP 0H 0ER 0K 0BB

Armstrong: 0.2IP 0H 2ER 0K 2BB

Sabrowski: 0.0IP 0H 0ER 0K 3BB

Gaddis: 0.2IP 2H 0ER 0K 0BB

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Cade: 1.0IP 0H 0ER 2K 1BB

Festa: 0.2IP 3H 1ER 1K 1BB

Cade, DeLauter, Rocchio (1/4, HR, 3 RBI), Hedges (2/4), and Holderman are the only Guardians that I’m not presently pissed at. Everyone else should try meditating, or yoga, or solidcore, or literally anything to prevent this game from ever happening again.

Hope you enjoyed this recap. Goodnight and good riddance to this awful game. See you Friday!



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Cleveland, OH

Ohio ICAC Task Force’s “Operation Guardians’ Watch” Results in 25 Individuals Arrested and Charged for Attempting to Meet with an Underage Child to Engage in Sexual Activity

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Ohio ICAC Task Force’s “Operation Guardians’ Watch” Results in 25 Individuals Arrested and Charged for Attempting to Meet with an Underage Child to Engage in Sexual Activity


The defendants, ages 20 – 63, engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with undercover officers posing as children. Contact was initiated through popular social media applications. The defendants expressed an interest in engaging in sexual activity with the purported children. Some of the defendants disseminated images of their genitals and others offered to pay for sexual activity during the online conversations.

Initial charges – ranging from third-degree to fifth-degree felonies – were filed against the defendants, which include:

  • Compelling Prostitution
  • Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct With A Minor
  • Disseminating Matter Harmful To Juveniles
  • Importuning
  • Possessing Criminal Tools

The arrested individuals include:

  • Brian Ferguson, 38, Cleveland
  • Andre Johnson, 37, Maple Heights
  • Luca Ascione, 31, Strongsville
  • Doug Matheson, 51, Berne, New York
  • Timothy Rankin, 37, Elyria
  • Glen Martin, 52, Eastlake
  • Christopher Docy, 28, North Ridgeville
  • Dominick Craig, 37, Logan
  • Gerald Rhome, 51, East Cleveland
  • Deandre Anderson, 24, Warrensville Heights
  • Tai’rez Jackson, 24, Cleveland
  • Esteban Baltazar, 63, Springfield, Tennessee
  • Oscar Aparicio, 24, Houston, Texas
  • Mohammad Mabrouk, 29, Cleveland
  • Michael Sullivan, 20, Cleveland
  • Brett Musselman, 33, Kent
  • David Whitfield, 35, Geneva,
  • Delwin Ortiz, 29, Cleveland
  • Samuel Kanyaruginga, 35, Cleveland
  • Domonic Delvalle, 35, Cleveland
  • Clyde Sweeney, 46, Fairlawn
  • Jason Kopco, 27, Westlake
  • Zachary Brodeur, 37, Flynn, Massachusetts
  • Vishwatej Nath, 45, Berea (charges will be filed in Lake County)
  • Klajdi Vrapi, 27, Fairview Park

“Operation Guardians’ Watch was coordinated by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio ICAC Task Force with the assistance of the Newburgh Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Parma Police Department, Sheffield Village Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland, U.S Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cleveland, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Kirtland Police Department, Lyndhurst Police Department, Amherst Police Department, Warren Police Department, Perrysburg Police Department, Kelleys Island Police Department, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department, and Portage County Sheriff’s Department.

This is the seventh undercover operation the Task Force has led since 2018. The total number of arrests from the Task Force’s operations stands at 160 offenders arrested.

*Ohio ICAC Task Force:

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The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is run under the direction of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and funded in part by a grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The task force conducts proactive and reactive investigations dealing with the online exploitation of children and provides training and technical assistance to more than 385 local, state, and federal criminal justice-affiliated agencies throughout the state of Ohio.



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Cleveland, OH

Cade Smith Deserves More Praise | Just Baseball

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Cade Smith Deserves More Praise | Just Baseball


Smith leads all of Major League Baseball with 26 saves while posting a 2.90 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts across 38 appearances. He’ll represent Cleveland in Philadelphia alongside rookie teammates Parker Messick and Travis Bazzana.

For a pitcher leading the majors in saves, he’s received remarkably little national attention.

Stats were taken prior to play on July 7.

Ready When the Opportunity Arrived

As a rookie in 2024, Smith emerged as one of baseball’s best setup men, appearing in 74 games while posting a 1.91 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in 75.1 innings. His 28 holds illustrated exactly how much trust Cleveland already had in him.

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He followed that with another outstanding campaign in 2025, throwing 73.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 104 strikeouts, 16 saves, and 19 holds.

When Clase was removed from the closer’s role following his suspension and eventual leave, Smith inherited one of the highest-pressure jobs in baseball. After blowing his first two save chances, he settled in quickly, converting 13 of his final 16 opportunities over August and September while pitching to an ERA in the mid-2.00s.

He carried that momentum into October, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts during Cleveland’s Wild Card Series against Detroit.

So, this season hasn’t been a breakout nearly as much as it has been a continuation.

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