C.J. Stroud easily breaks Dak Prescott’s first half passing yards record vs. Browns

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud continues to provide reasons as to why his rookie season may be one of the best, ever. On Saturday, he broke one NFL passing record and tied another in Houston’s playoff game against the Browns.

In fact, he did all this before halftime. Stroud passed for 236 yards and three touchdowns as the Texans built a 24-14 lead over Cleveland. The yardage is the most ever by a rookie quarterback in the first half of a playoff game since the NFL began maintaining play-by-play stats 33 years ago.

Dak Prescott set the previous record when he threw for 147 yards against the Packers on Jan. 17, 2017. That was Prescott’s first-ever playoff start. But it didn’t end like he wanted it. Green Bay, thanks to some late-game heroics by Aaron Rodgers, won the game 34-31 at AT&T Stadium. Prescott’s totals that day — 24 of 38 for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

San Francisco’s Brock Purdy then tied the record last year. But it now belongs to the Texans quarterback.

Is CJ Stroud the best rookie quarterback ever? #NFLpic.twitter.com/eWVgaxd1Cs

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) January 13, 2024

Rookie Texans star also tied Prescott, Purdy for TDs

Also, Stroud’s three touchdowns tied Prescott and Purdy for most ever by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game. And there’s an entire half to play for the Texans and Browns at NRG Stadium in Houston. This time a week ago, Stroud led the upstart Texans to the AFC South division title. A year ago, Houston was the second-worst team in the NFL. Now, under Stroud and new coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans are one of the hottest.

And all of Stroud’s rookie success is in contrast to Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. At 38, he’s the oldest starting quarterback in the NFL with a new lease on his career. In the first half against the Texans, Flacco threw for 172 yards and a TD in the first half. But the wheels came off his game when he threw a pick 6 on consecutive drives in the second half.

Stroud’s most spectacular first-half play was the 76-yarder to tight end Brevin Jordan. That score gave the Texans a 17-14 lead. Stroud also threw touchdown passes to Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz.

Alas, Stroud’s second-half stats were benign kind of numbers. He can attribute that to his defense posting those spectacular touchdown returns off of Flacco’s miscues. Stroud, who threw for 274 yards, gave way to Davis Mills in the fourth quarter in the eventual 45-14 victory.