Before Saturday’s wild-card game between the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns got started, it was clear that one key factor was going to be how often the Browns play single-high coverage vs. how Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud demolishes one-deep stuff.
The Browns played single-high on 64% of their defensive snaps in the regular season, the NFL’s highest rate. But Stroud against Cover-1 and Cover-3 in the regular season? He completed 141 of 228 for 2,054 yards, 1,335 air yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 105.4 – only Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson have higher passer ratings against Middle-of-the-field closed coverage this season.
Happy Wild-Card Weekend! Lots of stuff about today's games in "The Xs and Os with @gregcosell." Let's start with the @Browns' preference for single-high coverage, and C.J. Stroud of the @HoustonTexans' ability to shred Cover-1 and Cover-3.
All-22: https://t.co/LJEA0keObX pic.twitter.com/SnBcINrQQt
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 13, 2024
It took little time for Stroud to show his mastery of single-high stuff in this game. With 11 seconds left in the first quarter, Stroud hit receiver Nico Collins on this fake-toss/Tunnel screen for a 15-yard touchdown.
MAKE WAY FOR 12 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ftaPrZ9GH4
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
The Browns had Juan Thornhill as their only deep safety.
Nico Collins TD with the block by Tunsil, dots!@NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/G23sePDGod
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) January 13, 2024
Then, with 12:00 left in the first half, Stroud completed this 76-yard touchdown to tight end Brevin Jordan.
9️⃣ SAID BET 🤝 pic.twitter.com/HmPHsMxalW
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
This time, Ronnie Hickman was the only deep safety on the bootleg pass.
Brevin Jordan 76-yard touchdown, dots!!@NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/cJ3X9DwYar
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) January 13, 2024
Not that Schwartz moving to two-high helped much. Stroud’s third touchdown pass of the first half — a 37-yarder to tight end Dalton Schultz — saw the Browns with two deep safeties, and some miscommunication issues. Meanwhile, Stroud was once again showing outstanding deep touch when required.
AIR IT OUT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NjLQxykfDa
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2024
Split-safety coverage. You don’t want to over-play that stem to the 7 route. Just opens the door for Schultz to break to the post. https://t.co/USJF7aPHbt
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 13, 2024
At the half, Stroud was already setting rookie postseason records against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. And offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is putting together quite a head coach resume.
Story of 1st half: Bobby Slowik putting Browns defense in a blender.
Texans: 286 yards in 1st half. Most by any team against CLE this season.
6 plays of 20+. Also the most vs. Browns.
Texans scored on 4 of 6 possessions, and 1 of 2 punts was after an overthrow to wide-open WR.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) January 13, 2024
