NFL PLAYOFFS - Saturday's Wild Card Games Recap

 

The Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs rolled to easy victories on their home fields on Saturday to open the 2023 NFL playoffs "Wild Card" round. 

 

The Texans crushed the Cleveland Browns, 45-14 behind three touchdown passes and 274 passing yards by quarterback C.J. Stroud (pictured left) and two "pick six" interception returns for scores in the third quarter that put the game out of reach. The Texans led 24-14 at halftime, but Browns QB Joe Flacco (307 passing yards, one TD, two INT) was intercepted twice (on back-to-back possessions) for the touchdowns to increase Houston's lead to 38-14. Running back Devin Singletary added a 19-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to wrap things up and advance the Texans to the divisional round next weekend. Browns RB Kareem Hunt scored both touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the loss. 

In Kansas City in very frigid temperatures (-30 wind chills) on Saturday night, the Chiefs pounded the Miami Dolphins, 26-7 as QB Patrick Mahomes (262 passing yards) threw an 11-yard TD pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice (eight receptions for 130 yards) in the first quarter. Kicker Harrison Butker made four field goals and RB Isiah Pacheco (89 rushing yards) scored on a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter to account for the final score. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa (199 passing yards, one TD, one INT) connected with WR Tyreek Hill for a 53-yard touchdown to get to within 10-7 early in the second quarter. But that was it as Kansas City out gained the Dolphins, 409-264 in total yardage and will move on to the divisional round in the AFC playoffs.