Fun just beginning for Browns, who open playoffs Saturday at Houston

CINCINNATI — The Browns season has been a joyous, thrilling and unexpected ride. They went 11-6, started five quarterbacks — a franchise first — rediscovered the magic of soon-to-be-39-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco and survived a series of what could've been soul- and season-crushing injuries. Now the real fun begins. The Browns will open the playoffs 4:30 p.m. Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston against the Texans, who went 10-7 and won the AFC South. The Browns would've gone to Jacksonville, but the Jaguars lost again Sunday to complete a late-season collapse. The Browns' 31-14 loss to the Bengals wrapped up the regular season and had no playoff implications, so head coach Kevin Stefanski rested Flacco and as many starters as he could. The Browns have qualified for the postseason for only the third time since returning in 1999, following 2002 and 2020. If a game in Houston sounds familiar, it's because the Browns won there, 36-22, on Christmas Eve. Flacco threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns, and receiver Amari Cooper caught 11 passes for a franchise-record 265 yards and two touchdowns. This matchup could be a lot different. The Texans were without several key pieces, none more important than rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was out with a concussion. He's back and the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The Ohio State alum was the No. 2 pick in the draft in April. "He's a great football player," defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson said. "He's been doing some great things out there." The Browns open as a two-point favorite to beat the Texans. If they do, the party will keep on raging. Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on X.