Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: 2023 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2023 NFL season on 2024-01-13, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 45–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Flacco (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -17.64 total EPA, and +5.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Stroud (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+21.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (12:13) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 9-B.Jordan for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 C. Stroud · Houston Texans · Passing · +16.79 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
2. 2 N. Collins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.30 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Jordan · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.70 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.70 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Schultz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.29 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.15 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.90 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
6. 6 Dav. Bell · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.45 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.93 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Metchie · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cleveland Browns — K. Hunt (Q1 47:12)
• Houston Texans — N. Collins (C. Stroud pass) (Q1 45:18)
• Cleveland Browns — K. Hunt (J. Flacco pass) (Q2 42:23)
• Houston Texans — B. Jordan (C. Stroud pass) (Q2 42:13)
• Houston Texans — D. Schultz (C. Stroud pass) (Q2 31:19)
• Houston Texans — S. Nelson (Q3 21:21)
• Houston Texans — C. Harris (Q3 19:13)
• Houston Texans — D. Singletary (Q4 13:33)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q1 50:32)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–7. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the CLE 2 (Q1 50:32) — (5:32) 15-K.Fairbairn 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q1 47:12) — (2:12) 53-N.Harris and 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 27-K.Hunt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 47:09) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 15 (Q1 45:18) — (:18) 7-C.Stroud pass short left to 12-N.Collins for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 45:11) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. HOU-78-L.Tunsil was injured during the play..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 14–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q2 42:23) — (12:23) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 27-K.Hunt for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 42:18) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 76 (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 9-B.Jordan for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 42:00) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 37 (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 86-D.Schultz for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 31:11) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 14–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 34 (Q3 21:21) — (6:21) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass deep left INTERCEPTED by 21-S.Nelson [95-D.Barnett] at HOU 18. 21-S.Nelson for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 21:05) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 67 (Q3 19:13); Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 19:06) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 19 (Q4 13:33) — (13:33) 26-D.Singletary left guard for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 13:27).

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Houston Texans (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 9-B.Jordan for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +21.1% · EPA +5.70]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:21) — (6:21) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass deep left INTERCEPTED by 21-S.Nelson [95-D.Barnett] at HOU 18. 21-S.Nelson for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.6% · EPA -10.64]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 45:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 88-H.Bryant to HOU 28 for 47 yards (30-D.Houston-Carson). [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.09]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 50:29) — (5:29) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass deep right to 85-D.Njoku to HOU 30 for 45 yards (21-S.Nelson). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.89]
• Houston Texans (Q1 52:09) — (7:09) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 12-N.Collins to CLE 3 for 38 yards (0-G.Newsome). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.94]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:21) — (6:21) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass deep left INTERCEPTED by 21-S.Nelson [95-D.Barnett] at HOU 18. 21-S.Nelson for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.6% · EPA -10.64]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 19:13) — (4:13) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short right intended for 88-H.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 48-C.Harris at CLE 36. 48-C.Harris for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -3.4% · EPA -6.04]
• Houston Texans (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 9-B.Jordan for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +21.1% · EPA +5.70]
• Houston Texans (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 86-D.Schultz for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +4.79]

Quarterback report card

J.Flacco led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Flacco (Cleveland Browns) · 53 dropbacks · 64.2% completion · +5.6% CPOE · -0.33 EPA/play · -17.64 total EPA
• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 23 dropbacks · 69.6% completion · +7.7% CPOE · +0.73 EPA/play · +16.79 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Houston Texans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.18 vs -0.28), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -23.75 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, +11.25 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Houston Texans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• C. Stroud (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Flacco (CLE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. Stroud (HOU) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 50:32 · CLE 2 · Score 0-3
   (5:32) 15-K.Fairbairn 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
2. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 47:12 · HOU 1 · Score 6-3
   (2:12) 53-N.Harris and 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 27-K.Hunt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 47:09 · HOU 15 · Score 7-3
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
4. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 45:18 · CLE 15 · Score 7-9
   (:18) 7-C.Stroud pass short left to 12-N.Collins for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 45:11 · CLE 15 · Score 7-10
   15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. HOU-78-L.Tunsil was injured during the play.
6. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 42:23 · HOU 11 · Score 13-10
   (12:23) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 27-K.Hunt for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 42:18 · HOU 15 · Score 14-10
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 42:13 · CLE 76 · Score 14-16
   (12:13) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 9-B.Jordan for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 42:00 · CLE 15 · Score 14-17
   15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
10. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 31:19 · CLE 37 · Score 14-23
    (1:19) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 86-D.Schultz for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 31:11 · CLE 15 · Score 14-24
    15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
12. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 21:21 · HOU 34 · Score 14-30
    (6:21) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass deep left INTERCEPTED by 21-S.Nelson [95-D.Barnett] at HOU 18. 21-S.Nelson for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 21:05 · CLE 15 · Score 14-31
    15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
14. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 19:13 · HOU 67 · Score 14-37
    (4:13) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short right intended for 88-H.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 48-C.Harris at CLE 36. 48-C.Harris for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 19:06 · CLE 15 · Score 14-38
    15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
16. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 13:33 · CLE 19 · Score 14-44
    (13:33) 26-D.Singletary left guard for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 13:27 · CLE 15 · Score 14-45
    15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. PENALTY on CLE-95-M.Garrett, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.