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).

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:

4Q-0:00

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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