Cleveland Browns vs Houston Texans, Wild Card 2023
Cleveland Browns
Away
14
Houston Texans
HomeWon, advanced
45
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Texans | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
CLE 14HOU 45 Final
Passing leader
15.6PPR pts
34/46, 307 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
Top fantasy scorer
22.0PPR pts
6 REC, 96 YDS, 1 TD
Browns leader
Kareem Hunt
20.5PPR pts
8 ATT, 26 YDS, 1 TD, 5 REC, 9 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Defensive playmaker
Christian Harris
1 INT, 1 TD, 1 SACK, 8 TKL
Texans 45, Browns 14: Houston controls the 2023 Wild Card from start to finish
Houston led 24–14 at halftime after a 14-point second quarter and outscored Cleveland 21–0 after the break to win 45–14. The Texans finished with a 356–324 edge in total offense and averaged 8.1 yards per play.
The Browns went 7-for-15 on third down and committed two turnovers, while the Texans finished without a giveaway.
The Texans' run ended in the Divisional Round, a 34–10 loss to the Ravens.
The two teams meet again in Week 10 of 2026. If you roster anyone from either side, run the start/sit call in Redraft Command and it will weigh your lineup, your opponent and your league scoring, not only the player rankings.
Key advantages
- +3.5 yards/play HOU 8.1 · CLE 4.6
- +2 turnover margin HOU 0 turnovers
- +32 total yards HOU 356 · CLE 324
Game Highlights
Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube
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Why the Texans Won
Houston won the efficiency and turnover battles.
| Browns | Stat | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | Yards per play | 8.1 |
| 2 | Turnovers | 0 |
| 324 | Total yards | 356 |
| Other team stats | ||
| 70 | Plays | 44 |
| 47% | Third-down conversion | 25% |
| 35:26 | Time of possession | 24:34 |
Scoring Summary
The Texans scored six touchdowns and one field goal; the Browns scored two touchdowns.
| Time | Team | Play | CLE | HOU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | ||||
| 5:29 | HOU | Ka'imi Fairbairn 21-yard FG Takes lead | 0 | 3 |
| 2:09 | CLE | Kareem Hunt 1-yard TD run Takes leadRiley Patterson XP | 7 | 3 |
| 0:11 | HOU | C.J. Stroud → Nico Collins, 15-yard TD Takes leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 7 | 10 |
| 2nd quarter | ||||
| 12:18 | CLE | Joe Flacco → Kareem Hunt, 11-yard TD Takes leadRiley Patterson XP | 14 | 10 |
| 12:00 | HOU | C.J. Stroud → Brevin Jordan, 76-yard TD Takes leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 14 | 17 |
| 1:11 | HOU | C.J. Stroud → Dalton Schultz, 37-yard TD Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 14 | 24 |
| 3rd quarter | ||||
| 6:05 | HOU | Steven Nelson 82-yard interception return TD Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 14 | 31 |
| 4:06 | HOU | Christian Harris 36-yard interception return TD Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 14 | 38 |
| 4th quarter | ||||
| 13:27 | HOU | Devin Singletary 19-yard TD run Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 14 | 45 |
Playoff game: these points don't count in most season-long fantasy leagues.
Fantasy Points vs Expected
Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.
- Biggest overperformer+13.7C.J. Stroud23.1 PTS vs 9.4 xFP
- Biggest underperformer−5.6Joe Flacco15.6 PTS vs 21.2 xFP
- Highest expected volume21.2 xFPJoe Flacco15.6 PTS scored
| Player | PTS | xFP | vs xFP | Snap% | Usage | Rte% | Pass att | Car | Car% | Tgt | Tgt% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe FlaccoCLE · QB | 15.6 | 21.2 | −5.6 | — | 46 att | — | 46 | 3 | 15% | 0 | 0% |
| David NjokuCLE · TE | 16.3 | 18.4 | −2.1 | — | 26% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 11 | 26% |
| Kareem HuntCLE · RB | 20.5 | 14.9 | +5.6 | — | 40% car | — | 0 | 8 | 40% | 6 | 14% |
| David BellCLE · WR | 13.4 | 13.4 | 0.0 | — | 19% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 8 | 19% |
| Devin SingletaryHOU · RB | 16.0 | 13.0 | +3.0 | — | 59% car | — | 0 | 13 | 59% | 3 | 14% |
| Nico CollinsHOU · WR | 22.0 | 12.3 | +9.7 | — | 32% tgt | — | 0 | 1 | 5% | 7 | 32% |
| Jerome FordCLE · RB | 7.2 | 12.2 | −5.0 | — | 45% car | — | 0 | 9 | 45% | 4 | 9% |
| Harrison BryantCLE · TE | 10.5 | 10.0 | +0.5 | — | 14% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 6 | 14% |
| C.J. StroudHOU · QB | 23.1 | 9.4 | +13.7 | — | 21 att | — | 21 | 1 | 5% | 0 | 0% |
| Amari CooperCLE · WR | 9.9 | 8.3 | +1.6 | — | 12% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 12% |
| John Metchie IIIHOU · WR | 8.3 | 5.6 | +2.7 | — | 14% tgt | — | 0 | 1 | 5% | 3 | 14% |
| Dalton SchultzHOU · TE | 10.7 | 3.3 | +7.4 | — | 9% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 9% |
| Elijah MooreCLE · WR | 3.2 | 3.3 | −0.1 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 5% |
| Robert WoodsHOU · WR | 2.1 | 3.3 | −1.2 | — | 9% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 9% |
| Xavier HutchinsonHOU · WR | 3.2 | 3.3 | −0.1 | — | 9% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 9% |
| Davis MillsHOU · QB | -0.2 | 2.3 | −2.5 | — | 1 att | — | 1 | 3 | 14% | 0 | 0% |
| Dameon PierceHOU · RB | 0.0 | 1.8 | −1.8 | — | 14% car | — | 0 | 3 | 14% | 0 | 0% |
| Andrew BeckHOU · RB | 0.0 | 1.7 | −1.7 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 5% |
| Brevin JordanHOU · TE | 14.6 | 1.7 | +12.9 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 5% |
| Marquise GoodwinCLE · WR | 0.0 | 1.7 | −1.7 | — | 2% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 2% |
| Noah BrownHOU · WR | 0.0 | 1.7 | −1.7 | — | 5% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 5% |
Team totals: Browns 43 targets and 20 carries; Texans 22 targets and 22 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts aren't available for this game. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2023 season: 1.67 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.61 per carry and 0.42 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.
Fantasy Verdicts
Joe Flacco Unlucky
34 of 46 passing for 307 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions; 3 carries for 13 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 21.2 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Lowest-scoring game of the season.
C.J. Stroud Ran hot
16 of 21 passing for 274 yards, 3 touchdowns; 1 carry for 1 yard.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 9.4 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Best score since Week 12.
David Njoku
11 targets (26% of the team's), 7 catches for 93 yards.
Verdict: The points matched the role, 18.4 expected.
Fewest points since Week 13.
Kareem Hunt Ran hot
6 targets (14% of the team's), 5 catches for 9 yards and 1 touchdown; 8 carries (40% of the team's) for 26 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 14.9 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Season high in targets (6). Best fantasy game of the season.
Devin Singletary
3 targets (14% of the team's), 3 catches for 4 yards; 13 carries (59% of the team's) for 66 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The points matched the role, 13.0 expected.
Best score since Week 15.
Nico Collins Ran hot
7 targets (32% of the team's), 6 catches for 96 yards and 1 touchdown; 1 carry (5% of the team's) for 4 yards.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 12.3 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
A touchdown in 5 of the last 8 games.
Dalton Schultz Ran hot
2 targets (9% of the team's), 1 catch for 37 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 3.3 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Brevin Jordan Ran hot
1 target (5% of the team's), 1 catch for 76 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 1.7 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Best fantasy game of the season.
Fantasy Matchups
Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2023 through Week 18.
| Points allowed to | Browns D | Texans D |
|---|---|---|
| QBs | 14.3 | 17.1 |
| RBs | 19.7 | 20.3 |
| WRs | 27.0 | 31.2 |
| TEs | 9.2 | 13.9 |
Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.
How the Game Swung
Houston opened at 50% win probability and passed 98% in the third quarter on the way to the win.
Texans win probability
Key Swings
- −23Hunt 1-yd TD run60% → 37%Q1 2:09
- +23Stroud → Collins, 15-yd TD37% → 60%Q1 0:11
- −24Flacco → Hunt, 11-yd TD60% → 36%Q2 12:18
- +24Stroud → Jordan, 76-yd TD36% → 60%Q2 12:00
- +23Stroud → Schultz, 37-yd TD62% → 85%Q2 1:11
Swing in Texans win probability, in points
Play Calling and Possessions
| Cleveland Browns | Measure | Houston Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Plays | 44 |
| 71% | Pass rate | 50% |
| 5.4 | Yds / dropback | 12.7 |
| 2.8 | Yds / carry | 3.5 |
| 7/15 | Third downs | 2/8 |
Efficiency edge Houston ran 26 fewer plays but gained 7.3 more yards per dropback.
- Top targets
- CLE Njoku 26% · Bell 19% · Bryant 14%
- HOU Collins 32% · Singletary 14% · Metchie 14%
Possession Results
| Result | CLE | HOU |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdowns | 2 | 4 |
| Field goals | 0 | 1 |
| Punts | 4 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Turnovers on downs | 3 | 0 |
HOU turnover edge: +2
- The Texans opened the scoring on their second possession, a 7-play, 43-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
All 22 possessions, drive by drive
| Team | Start | Plays | Yards | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | Q1 15:00 | 4 | 6 | 2:35 | Punt |
| HOU | Q1 12:25 | 5 | 31 | 2:25 | Punt |
| CLE | Q1 10:00 | 3 | 5 | 1:37 | Punt |
| HOU | Q1 8:23 | 7 | 43 | 2:54 | Field goal |
| CLE | Q1 5:29 | 6 | 75 | 3:20 | Touchdown |
| HOU | Q1 2:09 | 4 | 75 | 1:58 | Touchdown |
| CLE | Q1 0:11 | 6 | 75 | 2:53 | Touchdown |
| HOU | Q2 12:18 | 1 | 76 | 0:18 | Touchdown |
| CLE | Q2 12:00 | 3 | -12 | 1:43 | Punt |
| HOU | Q2 10:17 | 3 | -3 | 1:35 | Punt |
| CLE | Q2 8:42 | 5 | 20 | 2:58 | Punt |
| HOU | Q2 5:44 | 8 | 71 | 4:33 | Touchdown |
| CLE | Q2 1:11 | 3 | 10 | 1:11 | End of half |
| HOU | Q3 15:00 | 5 | 12 | 3:33 | Punt |
| CLE | Q3 11:27 | 8 | 48 | 5:22 | Interception |
| CLE | Q3 6:05 | 4 | 8 | 1:59 | Interception |
| CLE | Q3 4:06 | 10 | 25 | 2:39 | Downs |
| HOU | Q3 1:27 | 6 | 50 | 3:00 | Touchdown |
| CLE | Q4 13:27 | 7 | 21 | 4:05 | Downs |
| HOU | Q4 9:22 | 3 | 2 | 2:25 | Punt |
| CLE | Q4 6:57 | 11 | 33 | 5:04 | Downs |
| HOU | Q4 1:53 | 3 | -4 | 1:53 | End of game |
About these numbers
The Texans' interception touchdown is counted as a Browns interception, not as a Texans possession. The Texans' interception touchdown is counted as a Browns interception, not as a Texans possession. Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.
Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.
Browns vs Texans Head-to-Head
The Browns and Texans first met in 2002 and have played 15 times since.
- All-time series
- 8–7Texans lead, 15 meetings since 2002
- Postseason
- 1–0Texans won in 2023
- Largest Browns win
- 34–172002
- Largest Texans win
- 45–142023
Since 2021
3–1 Browns lead
4 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.
Oldest to newest. B = Browns win, T = Texans win, outlined = this game.
2026 Meetings
- Week 10 Texans at Browns Upcoming
Recent Meetings
- 2023 Wild Card Browns at Texans HOU 45 CLE 14 HOU W
- 2023 Wk 16 Browns at Texans, 2023 Wk 16 recap CLE 36 HOU 22 CLE W
- 2022 Wk 13 Browns at Texans, 2022 Wk 13 recap CLE 27 HOU 14 CLE W
- 2021 Wk 2 Texans at Browns, 2021 Wk 2 recap CLE 31 HOU 21 CLE W
Season to Date (Through Week 18)
The 2023 regular season, from each game's box score.
| Browns | Stat | Texans |
|---|---|---|
| 11-6 | Record | 10-7 |
| 23.3 | Points per game | 22.2 |
| 335.9 | Yards per game | 342.4 |
| 4.8 | Yards per play | 5.4 |
| 21.3 | Points allowed per game | 20.8 |
| 270.2 | Yards allowed per game | 330.7 |
Browns vs Texans Fantasy Outlook for 2026
One meeting is left on the 2026 schedule: Week 10 in Cleveland. Here's how to decide who to play in your league.
- Start/Sit ToolShould your Browns or Texans player start in Week 10? Compare the decision against your other options.
- Fantasy Football ProjectionsSee the latest weekly and rest-of-season projections for Browns and Texans players.
- Fantasy Points Allowed by PositionHow the Browns and Texans defenses have treated QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs.
- Strength of ScheduleWhere this matchup falls in each team's fantasy playoff run.
- Redraft CommandConnect your league for personalized lineup, trade and roster advice.
Keep Exploring
2023 Game Logs for Players in This Game
Browns vs Texans Game FAQ
Who won the 2023 Browns vs Texans Wild Card game?
The Houston Texans beat the Cleveland Browns 45–14 in the Wild Card round of the 2023 playoffs. The game was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX, on January 13, 2024. See the Texans' 2023 schedule.
What was the final score of Browns vs Texans?
The final score was Texans 45, Browns 14. The Texans led 24–14 at halftime, and the second half went Browns 0, Texans 21.
What happened in the Browns vs Texans game?
Houston led 24–14 at halftime after a 14-point second quarter and outscored Cleveland 21–0 after the break to win 45–14. The Texans finished with a 356–324 edge in total offense and averaged 8.1 yards per play. The Browns committed 2 turnovers, the Texans none.
How did the Texans beat the Browns?
The Texans beat the Browns 45–14 because they averaged 8.1 yards per play to 4.6, won the turnover battle 2–0, and outgained them 356–324.
Which team won the turnover battle in Browns vs Texans?
The Texans won the turnover battle 2–0: the Browns gave the ball away 2 times and the Texans not at all. The Texans won the game.
What is the all-time Browns vs Texans record?
The Texans lead the all-time series 8–7 across 15 meetings since 2002, including a 1–0 record in the postseason.
When did the Browns and Texans last play before this game?
Before the 2023 Wild Card round, they last met in the 2023 season on December 24, 2023, when the Browns beat the Texans 36–22.
Have the Browns and Texans met in the playoffs?
Yes, 1 time, most recently in the 2023 playoffs. The Browns are 0–1 against the Texans in the postseason.
What is the Browns vs Texans record since 2021?
The Browns lead 3–1 across 4 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.