The Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson had an average start in the 2023 NFL season. They started the campaign with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals but lost several matches following that. The team witnessed its biggest loss when Watson went down for the whole season. Nevertheless, Joe Flacco emerged as a protagonist for a while and led the franchise to the playoff race.
One of the Browns remarkable wins was against CJ Stroud’s Houston Texans squad in Week 16. They secured a 36-22 win in the campaign, and seemingly the Texans players didn’t forget the setback before heading to play a rematch against the Browns in their wildcard match. They picked a massive win against the Browns due to Stroud’s excellence, which earned a series of jabs to Watson.
NFL fans taunt Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson was on the sideline in the Texans vs Browns clash on Saturday. It was his second appearance on the field since his surgery. The match was even more pathetic for the QB to see his former team securing a win against his current team with a rookie quarterback. Netizens aimed jabs at Watson on social media following the Browns blowout loss.
A fan wrote,”The best part of this game is seeing #DeshaunWatson’s face on the sidelines while he watches his team lose to the team he begged to be traded away from.”
Watson’s trade was one of the biggest moves for the Browns, as they sacrificed a series of things for a QB who has a poor injury history. Meanwhile, the Texans used the opportunity to do some unique maneuvering of draft picks to get three linchpins for them.
They even got extra first-round picks as part of the Watson deal. With the 2023 first-round pick, the franchise traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to draft Anderson after selecting CJ Stroud with their own pick at No. 2 overall.
The Texans’ move of trading Watson and drafting Stroud actually benefited them thoroughly. The former got overshadowed by his young successor in his first season, and fans didn’t shy away from the Browns QB for this.
A user wrote,”Deshaun Watson really the biggest loser from this game lmaoo Stroud done wiped you clean from Texans history in his 1st year.”
A netizen wrote, “CJ Stroud is better than Deshaun Watson ever was…..and he’s a rookie.”
Deshaun Watson had been in the limelight for the Texans during their last playoff run. He bested Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card playoff game back in 2019. However, the QB managed to play just six games for the Browns in the 2023 NFL season before having the season-ending shoulder surgery.
CJ Stroud shines at Texans vs Browns game
In the Texans vs Browns wild-card matchup, CJ Stroud shone brightly by leading the Texans to a resounding 45-14 victory. This win marked the team’s return to the playoffs since Deshaun Watson’s notable performance in the 2019 season.
The young star threw three touchdown passes and set a rookie record for the most passing yards in the first half of a playoff game with an impressive 236 yards. He finished the match 16-for-21 passing for 274 yards along with incredible touchdowns to Nico Collins, Brevin Jordan, and Dalton Schultz. The Texans’ defense also played a pivotal role by securing two pick-sixes off seasoned quarterback Joe Flacco.
“Super excited for this team and the city of Houston. I’m just blessed to be in the position I am … I put in a lot of hard work, and my teammates do too, and it’s cool to see the fruits of your labor come to be true”, he said in excitement following the win.
What makes Stroud’s accomplishment even more remarkable is his status as the first QB drafted in the top two since 1967 to start and win a playoff game in his rookie season. Surpassing Michael Vick, he became the youngest QB to secure a playoff victory and set a new benchmark for rookies in the postseason.