The Houston Texans, led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, have all the good vibes right now. They shocked the Cleveland Browns in the wild card round, winning 45-14 and looking more experienced than the young team they are.
But the Baltimore Ravens aren’t the Browns. They’re one of the most formidable teams in the NFL. They don’t have 38-year-old Joe Flacco making a late-career surge as their quarterback. They have Lamar Jackson, a dual-threat QB and the likely MVP, leading their offense. He’s got the legs. He’s got the arm. And he’s a whole lot harder to sack than Flacco.
The Texans will have their hands full, but so will the Ravens. The Texans have good vibes, but that’s not all they’re built on. Stroud is looking like a legit franchise quarterback after just 18 professional games. The Browns’ defense, one of the best in the league, had a lot of trouble putting a lid on Stroud and Houston’s offense.
Which team will come out on top? Follow along as Yahoo Sports provides the latest news, scores and highlights from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
Live44 updates
-
And now a trick play blows up in the Ravens’ face. A couple laterals and a pass results in a 5-yard loss. Ravens weren’t fooled at all. Texans now facing 3rd and 15.
-
Wow, Devin Singletary runs up the middle and breaks like three tackles for 16 yards. Texans are moving the ball better than they did in the first half.
-
Ravens CB Brandon Stephens gets called for holding on a play that would have set up 3rd-and-9 for Houston.
-
Ravens stop Devin Singletary to set up 3rd and 6, but Stroud hits Dalton Schultz for another big first down.
-
-
With that 15-yard TD run, Lamar Jackson became the first player in Ravens playoff history with a rushing and passing TD in the same game
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 20, 2024
-
That was a huge response for the Ravens. Six plays, 55 yards, set up by that good return by Devin Duvernay..
-
-
TOUCHDOWN RAVENS.
The Texans leave the middle of the field open for Lamar Jackson to scramble for a 15-yard touchdown. 17-10 Ravens.
-
Wow, Texans safety Jalen Pitre nearly made a great play to pick off Jackson in the end zone.
-
Another first down and the Ravens are in the red zone. Jackson looked ready for the blitz there.
-
The Ravens offense opens with two quick passes for 28 yards. Baltimore already at the Texans’ 27. Now Texans standout LB Christian Harris jogs off with an injury.
-
Devin Duvernay returns it to Baltimore’s 45 and we’re off in the third quarter.
-
The big question as the second half begins is how can Lamar Jackson and the Ravens adjust to the Texans’ blitzing? Baltimore averaged only 3.8 yards per play in the first half with three sacks for 29 yards. Jackson hasn’t looked ready for the additional rushers, so a quick option or two from the line of scrimmage could be huge.
-
Ravens will have the ball to open the second half, and here’s some halftime reading on Steven Sims and his wild punt return:
Steven Sims, a regular on Texans’ practice squad, has a huge punt return vs. Ravens
-
The Texans’ defense has three sacks and a tied game at the half. Maybe the Ravens will have an answer for the blitz in the third quarter.
-
You can’t make this up: Jackson is sacked immediately again on the next play for a loss of 13 yards.
-
Ravens open up their drive by letting Lamar Jackson get sacked again.
-
Fairbairn’s 47-yard field goal attempt is NO GOOD.
-
Nice conversion on third and long from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins for 29 yards! Collins goes 16 yards on the next play to bring the Texans in field goal range.