It’s That Time-Your First Playoff Open Thread

Welcome, welcome fans of the NFL. Not so long ago this would be a game that you would consciously avoid were it a regular season tilt but the times have indeed changed and I think coaches Stefanski and Ryans are the primary reasons. Houston’s GM gets a little credit as well for drafting intelligently. All in all, it’s not a bad way to start the post-season festivities.

To The Game!

Browns/Texans:

-Phenomenal rookie Stroud absolutely tears apart zone defenses. The problem? Cleveland plays man just about more than any other team. And guess what? C.J. is a bottom 6 qb vs that setup.

-Those Browns are favored in a playoff game for the first time since Nigeria moved its capital city from Lagos to Abuja! (thanks Wiki)

-Who will step up if, as expected, the secondary bends coverage towards Nico Collins? Both Noah Brown and Robert Woods are hobbled-to what extent we don’t know because, why would they miss a playoff game if they were able to walk? Xavier Hutchinson has come up small in a few recent games, having one catch on seven targets. Maybe the wildcard is John Metchie, a guy that can’t stay healthy but his Alabama pedigree may manifest itself.

-Still Old: When Flacco was starting his first playoff game Stroud was a wee 8 year-old. Isn’t it amazing that some people are old and other people aren’t as old?

-Successful Rebuild: The Texans last played an extra game back in 2019. Only three players from today’s roster played in that fixture-that’s quite a bit of turnover.

-Cooper went bananas the last time these teams clashed but ends Anderson and Greenard weren’t around and starting cb Cashman was sitting as well. That said, I’d take the over on his 73.5 receiving prop.

Let’s have some fun.