Nico Collins had the freedom of Houston in behind the Browns secondary, and as CJ Stroud let it rip it looked nailed-on a touchdown, but perhaps just too much excitement in the rookie's arm as he overthrows his receiver with the end zone gaping.

That's a big let-off for Cleveland as Houston have to punt.

Joe Flacco goes down! That's the first sack of the game and the run of touchdowns ends as Houston's defence steps up.

Replays pretty conclusive that Njoku was tackled early and the Texans build on that break by producing a big stop.

No pressure Joe Flacco, but the last four drives have all ended in touchdowns - with CJ Stroud's last two passes having ended up in the end zone.

It looks like a flag should be thrown as David Njoku is tackled before the ball gets there, but Cleveland don't get it.

Former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge on Texans' second touchdown: "We see the speed of Brevin Jordan but watch the patience. He really sells this, he sets up the tight end screen, then does the rest with his speed and athleticism."

"Stroud is doing nothing but going out there and executing. It’s going to come down to whether Cleveland can get a stop. They stopped him early on but now he’s gone touchdown, touchdown. It could be a long day for the Browns" - Ndamukong Suh, 2021 Super Bowl winner, on Sky Sports

Joe Flacco putting his body on the line on the QB sneak to convert a third-and-two tells you all you need to know about how different play-off football is.

"These two quarterbacks aren’t scared, they know that they have to leave it all out there. And we see who they are targeting – they are going to their playmakers." - Jason Bell, former NFL cornerback, on Sky Sports

Phew! Bit of a breathless ending to that first quarter, and we could have a shootout here with Stroud and Flacco both happy to sling it early on.

Long may it continue!

That was an impressive scoring drive from the Browns, with Kareem Hunt barging over for the game's first touchdown, but their lead lasted barely two minutes!

Image source, Ge

Another explosive play! Joe Flacco hits Harrison Bryant over the middle and the tight end gallops away for a 47-yard gain all the way down to the Houston 28.

Some big plays in this game already.

Houston's Devin Singletary bursts through for a 29-yard run - busting tackles and knocking down Cleveland defenders as he goes.

A classic angry run, as fans of the NFL's 'Good Morning Football' show will know...

Image source, Getty Images

That's a bit more like it from Joe Flacco.

Yes, he may have been drafted in from the couch, he may be turning 39 next week, but boy he knows how to win play-off games.

Flacco has never lost a wildcard game, he's 5-0 with those five wins tied with Brett Favre for the most ever.

And with seven play-off wins on the road he's tied with Tom Brady, so a win in Houston tonight would give him two extremely impressive records.

Oh, and he's a Super Bowl winner and MVP with the Baltimore Ravens from 2013 - not a bad CV for an old guy,

Former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge: "It was a beautiful job by the left guard to pull on the linebacker. The strength of this Browns offence is those three interior guys."

Cleveland drive up to the Houston eight-yard line with Amari Cooper making a nice catch after making his way across the field to get open.

He's slow to get up though as he still battles that heel injury that kept him out last week.

First play back on the field for Joe Flacco and he unleashes a 45-yard strike to tight end David Njoku who had burst forward with tremendous speed for a big guy.

Flacco comes out swinging.

Field goal - Texanspublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January

21:58 GMT 13 January

Cleveland Browns 0-3 Houston Texans

Ka'imi Fairbairn is good from 21 yards out after the flurry of excitement down at the goal line.

Good signs from Houston, especially with Nicol Collins looking like he can get open against this Cleveland secondary and their love of playing man defence back there.