The NFL playoffs get underway this weekend with six games over three days. The postseason action kicks off Saturday with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans from NRG Stadium in Houston. One team finished second in their division and wrapped up their playoff seeding in week 17 allowing them to rest for the final game of the season. The other had to win its final game and get help to make it to this point. Let’s take a look at this wild card matchup.

Cleveland Browns

To call the Cleveland Browns’ 2023 season odd would be an understatement. Cleveland became the first team to start five different quarterbacks since the 1987 New England Patriots. Deshaun Watson started the year under center before an injury led to starts for both P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Cleveland was still in the hunt when they decided to turn to former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Flacco had struggled in tenures with the Broncos and Jets but found his groove in five starts for Cleveland, going 4-1 and clinching a playoff spot. Jeff Driskel got the start in the meaningless season finale as a way to keep Flacco safe for this playoff start.

Cleveland finished the year 11-6 while going 3-3 in divisional play. The Browns split the season series with all three division opponents, although it should again be mentioned the final loss to the Bengals was in a meaningless game. Cleveland is looking to gain momentum as the team seeks its first Super Bowl appearance and first NFL Championship since 1964 and the days of Jim Brown.

Houston Texans

The Texans may be the surprise team of the 2023 season. Under first year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, Houston was believed to be the bottom of the barrel in the AFC South. Houston’s season was filled with ups and downs. The Texans lost their first two games to the Ravens and Colts, and Houston became the first of only two teams all season to lose to the Carolina Panthers. Still, Houston would find momentum at the right time, beating Tennessee and Indianapolis in the final two weeks to clinch a playoff spot.

The Texans finished the year 10-7 and 4-2 in the division. Houston moved from wild card team to division champion when the Titans upset the Jaguars in the final game of the season. It is the Texans’ first division championship since 2019.

Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans Predictions

The Cleveland Browns played eight games against current playoff teams finishing the season 5-3. Those five wins include victories over the Ravens and 49ers, the two number one seeds in this year’s playoffs. It also includes a win over the Texans in Houston in the 15th game of the season.

The Houston Texans, meanwhile, only played four games against current playoff teams finishing the season 2-2. The wins came against the Buccaneers and Steelers while the losses came against the Browns and Ravens.

Most of the numbers favor Cleveland. The Browns had the tougher schedule while beating the Texans in the regular season. The only statistic favoring Houston is home field advantage. The Texans went 6-3 at home while the Browns went 3-5 on the road. Yet, one of those road wins for Cleveland was against the Texans in Houston. I’m picking Cleveland to win.

Final Score: Cleveland Browns 31 | Houston Texans 20

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