Get ready, folks, it's nearly Cleveland Browns playoff football time! For the second time in four years under head coach Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland is heading to the postseason and will take on the Texans in Houston on Saturday afternoon to kick the playoffs off.
This has been one of the most bizarre seasons for the Browns with all of the injuries, yet at the same time, it's arguably the most fun this franchise has had since coming back to the NFL in 1999. Yes, they beat the Steelers in their home stadium in 2020 and fought the Chiefs to the end the next week, but this season is different. There has been a ton of adversity, but this team has shown great resiliency.
Here are the three big storylines when the Browns take on the Texans in the Wild Card Round.
3. The defense is starting to get healthy
The Browns have been plagued with injuries from Week 1 with key injuries all over the roster. The offense took the brunt of injuries in the early goings of the season and later on, the defense got bit by the nasty injury bug, but it appears as if that unit is starting to get healthy.
Grant Delpit has missed the last four weeks with a groin injury but returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity. Now, this doesn't guarantee that he will play on Saturday, but this is the first step in the right direction. Delpit was having a terrific season before the injury, and the way he was used enhanced this already stout unit.
Myles Garrett battled through a shoulder injury for a bulk of the second half of the season, and more recently a hamstring injury. Luckily the Browns were in position to rest their starters in Week 18, so Garrett got that much more time to rest up. Garrett is the front runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but that singular award means nothing to him as he wants the big award, aka, the Super Bowl.
Ogbo Okoronkwo, who suffered a pectoral tear towards the end of the regular season has been limited in practice the last two days, and that would be a massive get back for the Browns. Juan Thornhill, who has endured nagging injuries, was also limited.
2. How will Jim Schwartz have the defense attack CJ Stroud?
When the Browns knocked off the Texans in Week 16 on Christmas Eve, they did so with Houston missing stud rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, who was in concussion protocol. Case Keenum stepped in to fill the void, and no disrespect to the Cleveland legend, but he's no Stroud.
Houston drafted Stroud second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and he lit the world on fire in his rookie campaign. He threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 63.9% of his passes. The likely winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award also rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Stefanski said that they have watched tape on Stroud and described him as "awesome." In the offseason, Cleveland moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Woods and brought in Jim Schwartz. That move is arguably the best one made by any NFL team this year.
Schwartz has overhauled this defense to the point where they are in the conversation for best in the league. General manager Andrew Berry went out and acquired a bevy of talent for Schwartz to mold into his system, along with the players already on the roster or drafted.
So what will Schwartz do about Stroud? He will likely use Lamar Jackson as a blueprint as to how to defend what Stroud is capable of. While Stroud doesn't use his legs quite like Jackson, he does use them to extend plays and escape closing pockets, which happens at a high rate. If the Browns can apply pressure early and often, it could be tough sledding for the rook.
1. Can Flacco Fever continue?
Nearly two months ago, Joe Flacco was sitting on the couch watching NFL games. Fast forward to now and he has the Browns and their fans believing they are about to embark on a magical postseason run.
Flacco has come in and provided a resurgence within the offense, which is even more impressive when you factor in he became the fourth starter for Cleveland this season. In five games, Flacco has thrown for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He will need to limit the turnovers starting on Saturday as you can't turn the ball over in January and expect to play in February.
Amari Cooper and David Njoku have developed great chemistry with Flacco, and that was on full display in the Week 16 matchup with Houston. Cooper caught 11 passes and set a franchise record with 265 yards, and two touchdowns. He has been nursing a heel injury, but said he will be good to go for Saturday. In that same game, Njoku caught six passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
For years, Flacco tormented the Browns when he played for the Ravens. Now, there is a possibility that he could return to his former city and square off with his former team in either the Divisional Round or the AFC title game. Could you imagine? *Looking eye emojis*