Browns-Texans wild-card matchup could come down to pass rush battle
It is looking as though cornerback Denzel Ward will be good to go for the...
Cleveland Browns
![By ARNIE STAPLETON Lamar Jackson will miss out on wild-card weekend for a second straight year, and this time it’s for a much better reason. The Baltimore Ravens and their star quarterback earned the AFC’s top playoff seed and the conference’s sole bye with a dominant regular-season run just one year after uncertainty clouded Jackson’s health and future. Jackson missed the final five regular-season games and the playoffs a year ago because of a left knee injury, and Tyler Huntley started in his place when the Ravens lost to Cincinnati in a wild-card round game. That was followed by months of doubt […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-FBN-Browns-Jets3-1228-01.jpg?w=132 "By ARNIE STAPLETON Lamar Jackson will miss out on wild-card weekend for a second straight year, and this time it’s for a much better reason. The Baltimore Ravens and their star quarterback earned the AFC’s top playoff seed and the conference’s sole bye with a dominant regular-season run just one year after uncertainty clouded Jackson’s health and future. Jackson missed the final five regular-season games and the playoffs a year ago because of a left knee injury, and Tyler Huntley started in his place when the Ravens lost to Cincinnati in a wild-card round game. That was followed by months of doubt […]")
AFC playoff picture: Case for each team entering wild-card weekend
By ARNIE STAPLETON Lamar Jackson will miss out on wild-card weekend for a second straight...
![By Associated Press CLEVELAND (11-6) at HOUSTON (10-7) Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m., WKYC OPENING LINE: Browns by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cleveland 10-6-1; Houston 9-8. SERIES RECORD: Tied 7-7. LAST MEETING: Cleveland beat Houston 36-22 on Dec. 24 in Houston. LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Bengals 31-14; Texans beat Colts 23-19. BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (12), PASS (19), SCORING (10). BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (11), PASS (1), SCORING (13). TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (23), PASS (7), SCORING (14). TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (14), RUSH (6), PASS (23), SCORING (11). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-9; Texans […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-BrownsJets-1229-49.jpg?w=115 "By Associated Press CLEVELAND (11-6) at HOUSTON (10-7) Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m., WKYC OPENING LINE: Browns by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cleveland 10-6-1; Houston 9-8. SERIES RECORD: Tied 7-7. LAST MEETING: Cleveland beat Houston 36-22 on Dec. 24 in Houston. LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Bengals 31-14; Texans beat Colts 23-19. BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (12), PASS (19), SCORING (10). BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (11), PASS (1), SCORING (13). TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (23), PASS (7), SCORING (14). TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (14), RUSH (6), PASS (23), SCORING (11). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-9; Texans […]")
Browns vs. Texans: AFC wild card playoff facts, TV, betting line, matchups
By Associated Press CLEVELAND (11-6) at HOUSTON (10-7) Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m., WKYC OPENING LINE:...
![By KRISTIE RIEKEN HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud was blown away the first time he worked out with Nico Collins. Houston’s rookie quarterback knew immediately that the receiver was special. “I said: ‘You’re a superstar,’” Stroud recalled. Collins doesn’t remember the interaction but said that’s probably because Stroud is always encouraging him and providing positive feedback. “I really don’t, but I believe he said it … we always motivate each other, man,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s why things get kind of blurry.” As the Texans return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 on Jan. 13 when […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AP24007056980509-1.jpg?w=132 "By KRISTIE RIEKEN HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud was blown away the first time he worked out with Nico Collins. Houston’s rookie quarterback knew immediately that the receiver was special. “I said: ‘You’re a superstar,’” Stroud recalled. Collins doesn’t remember the interaction but said that’s probably because Stroud is always encouraging him and providing positive feedback. “I really don’t, but I believe he said it … we always motivate each other, man,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s why things get kind of blurry.” As the Texans return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 on Jan. 13 when […]")
Nico Collins looks to lead Texans in playoffs after breakout regular season
By KRISTIE RIEKEN HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud was blown away the first time he worked...
![Denzel Ward suffered a knee injury during practice Jan. 11 and is listed as questionable for the Browns’ wild-card playoff game Jan. 13 in Houston. The injury to the sixth-year Pro Bowl cornerback is the latest blow to a Browns team that has overcome numerous injuries throughout the season but still managed to finish 11-6. Only the Ravens (13-4) finished with a better record in the AFC. Ward seemed fine during the early portion of practice open to the media. Coach Kevin Stefanski met with reporters in his normal post-practice Friday session (the Jan. 11 practice was like a Friday […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-FBN-Browns2-0910-55-1.jpg?w=119 "Denzel Ward suffered a knee injury during practice Jan. 11 and is listed as questionable for the Browns’ wild-card playoff game Jan. 13 in Houston. The injury to the sixth-year Pro Bowl cornerback is the latest blow to a Browns team that has overcome numerous injuries throughout the season but still managed to finish 11-6. Only the Ravens (13-4) finished with a better record in the AFC. Ward seemed fine during the early portion of practice open to the media. Coach Kevin Stefanski met with reporters in his normal post-practice Friday session (the Jan. 11 practice was like a Friday […]")
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward injured, questionable for playoff game
Denzel Ward suffered a knee injury during practice Jan. 11 and is listed as questionable...
![The Texans know exactly what to expect in a wild-card playoff game in Houston on Jan. 13, and just in case they need a reminder, the Browns fans who make their way to NRG Stadium will let them hear about it with a drawn-out chorus of “Coooop!” the first time Amari Cooper catches a pass. Cooper caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns on Dec. 24 when the Browns beat the Texans, 36-22. The Browns led, 36-7, until the backups gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The 265 yards were a Browns single-game franchise record, breaking […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AP23362389522757-1.jpg?w=132 "The Texans know exactly what to expect in a wild-card playoff game in Houston on Jan. 13, and just in case they need a reminder, the Browns fans who make their way to NRG Stadium will let them hear about it with a drawn-out chorus of “Coooop!” the first time Amari Cooper catches a pass. Cooper caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns on Dec. 24 when the Browns beat the Texans, 36-22. The Browns led, 36-7, until the backups gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The 265 yards were a Browns single-game franchise record, breaking […]")
Befuddled Texans awed by Browns star receiver Amari Cooper
The Texans know exactly what to expect in a wild-card playoff game in Houston on...
![Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns’ defense will be prepared to take on Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud on Jan. 13 in a wild card playoff game in Houston. They were ready to face him when they met the Texans on Dec. 24 in the regular season, but a concussion forced Stroud to miss the game. “Obviously a rookie, but he has command that goes beyond the usual scope of a rookie,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said on Jan. 10. “He’s decisive with the ball, an accurate passer, buys some time, makes big plays down the field. […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-FBN-Browns-Jets3-1228-25-1.jpg?w=110 "Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns’ defense will be prepared to take on Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud on Jan. 13 in a wild card playoff game in Houston. They were ready to face him when they met the Texans on Dec. 24 in the regular season, but a concussion forced Stroud to miss the game. “Obviously a rookie, but he has command that goes beyond the usual scope of a rookie,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said on Jan. 10. “He’s decisive with the ball, an accurate passer, buys some time, makes big plays down the field. […]")
Browns’ defense eager to take down Texans star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud
Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns’ defense will be prepared to take on...
![By Tom Withers Joe Flacco knows the ins and outs, the perils and pitfalls of the road in the NFL playoffs as well as anyone. He’s sharing his top travel tips with the Browns. As Cleveland’s quarterback and his new-ish teammates prepare for their Jan. 13 AFC wild-card game in Houston, Flacco’s experience — and success — on the road in the postseason is giving the Browns (11-6) an extra boost of confidence. Flacco has won seven road playoff games, tying him with Tom Brady for the most in league history. There don’t seem to be any secrets to his […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-FBN-Browns-Jets3-1228-09-1.jpg?w=113 "By Tom Withers Joe Flacco knows the ins and outs, the perils and pitfalls of the road in the NFL playoffs as well as anyone. He’s sharing his top travel tips with the Browns. As Cleveland’s quarterback and his new-ish teammates prepare for their Jan. 13 AFC wild-card game in Houston, Flacco’s experience — and success — on the road in the postseason is giving the Browns (11-6) an extra boost of confidence. Flacco has won seven road playoff games, tying him with Tom Brady for the most in league history. There don’t seem to be any secrets to his […]")
Joe Flacco’s road success in playoffs gives Browns boost as they visit Texans in AFC wild card
By Tom Withers Joe Flacco knows the ins and outs, the perils and pitfalls of...
![You know what a pain in the brain it is to be slowed by road construction for weeks, but once the project is complete and traffic flows smoothly it’s as if the orange barrels were never there? Orange barrels and detour signs figuratively marked the Browns front office in Berea for most of the years from 1999 to 2019 — hire a general manager, hire a coach, tear down the roster, suffer back-to-back losing seasons and then do it all over again with a different G.M., a different head coach, another batch of assistant coaches, another roster rebuild and two […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/TNH-L-fbnWatsonpresser-0326-11-1.jpg?w=121 "You know what a pain in the brain it is to be slowed by road construction for weeks, but once the project is complete and traffic flows smoothly it’s as if the orange barrels were never there? Orange barrels and detour signs figuratively marked the Browns front office in Berea for most of the years from 1999 to 2019 — hire a general manager, hire a coach, tear down the roster, suffer back-to-back losing seasons and then do it all over again with a different G.M., a different head coach, another batch of assistant coaches, another roster rebuild and two […]")
Andew Berry-Kevin Stefanski stability paying dividends for Browns | Jeff Schudel
You know what a pain in the brain it is to be slowed by road...
![Joe Flacco played for two teams and started 17 games in four years after his time with the Ravens ended following the 2018 season. Want to guess the number of games his team won in those 17 starts? Hint: It averages out to less than one win a season. Joe Flacco has saved the Browns, but the Browns also revived Flacco’s career when General Manager Andrew Berry invited him to Berea for a tryout on Nov. 17. Flacco made his first start for the Browns on Dec. 3 against the Rams. The Browns lost, but they won their next four […]](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AP23358731096999-1.jpg?w=132 "Joe Flacco played for two teams and started 17 games in four years after his time with the Ravens ended following the 2018 season. Want to guess the number of games his team won in those 17 starts? Hint: It averages out to less than one win a season. Joe Flacco has saved the Browns, but the Browns also revived Flacco’s career when General Manager Andrew Berry invited him to Berea for a tryout on Nov. 17. Flacco made his first start for the Browns on Dec. 3 against the Rams. The Browns lost, but they won their next four […]")
Joe Flacco’s career, Browns’ season revitalized by a phone call
Joe Flacco played for two teams and started 17 games in four years after his...