Sets Texans’ AFC Divisional Round Kickoff Time Due to …….
The Houston Texans still aren’t sure where they’ll travel next week for the AFC Divisional Round, but they at least know the start time and date.
Houston will kickoff next Saturday, January 20, at 3:30 p.m. CT against either the three-seeded Kansas City Chiefs or top-seeded Baltimore Ravens. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.
The outcome of Monday’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills will determine which flight route Houston follows. If the No. 7 seed Steelers secure the victory on the road, Houston will travel to Arrowhead to take on the defending Super Bowl champs.
Should No. 2 seed Buffalo win at Highmark Stadium, the Texans would travel to M&T Bank Stadium for a rematch of Week 1 against MVP favorite Lamar Jackson. Baltimore won the first matchup, 25-9, behind a two-touchdown game from Justice Hill.
Houston secured the 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round at NRG Stadium Saturday afternoon. After allowing Cleveland to jump out to a 14-10 lead, the Texans pitched a shutout in the second half, scoring 31 unanswered points in the process.
“We’re playing our best ball as of right now these last two weeks, last three weeks really, and that’s really what you want,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud, the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, became the fourth rookie passer in league history to throw 200-plus yards and three touchdowns in a playoff game, joining Sammy Baugh, Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy.
He also became the first rookie quarterback since Mark Sanchez in 2009 to win a playoff game and the youngest quarterback to secure a victory since Michael Vick in 2002.
“C.J. is the reason why we’re in this position,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said postgame. “He’s a special young man and special player and continues to shine. No matter how big the moment is, our whole team is leaning on him, and he has the shoulders to carry the weight. And he shows up week after week. … No moment is too big for him.”
Houston’s defense ended conversations of a comeback by forcing a pair of pick-sixes from Steven Nelson and Christian Harris on back-to-back drives in the third quarter. Harris, Will Anderson Jr., Derek Barnett, and Kurt Hinish each recorded a sack on Joe Flacco.
Second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. stepped up in man coverage against Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper. In the Browns’ 36-22 victory over Houston in Week 16, Cooper set a franchise single-game receiving record with 265 yards and two touchdowns.
On Saturday, Cooper finished with four catches for 59 yards. Against Stingley, he posted one catch for -6 yards on three targets.
“Sting was up for the challenge before the matchup,” said Ryans. “And that’s what playoff football is about. It’s about your playmakers stepping up and making plays.”
Stroud was never sacked and only pressured once. Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil matched up with All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett on 12 reps. He allowed only one quarterback pressure and no sacks.
“Can’t say enough about [Laremy Tunsil] and his performance versus arguably the top defensive player in the NFL right now, and he’s done it,” said Ryans. “Time and time again, he’s done it. He’s had that matchup. He looked forward to that matchup, and he stands up time and time again. He pushed through there, struggling, fighting through injury, and still battles. When you have a left tackle who can do that, that allows C.J. [Stroud] to shine, that allows us to get the ball off.”
Baltimore received the first-round bye after finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record. Kansas City secured the 26-7 victory over Miami at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday evening.