NFL playoffs: The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins after the Houston Texans beat the Cleveland Browns

January 14, 2024, 00:47 GMT

Updated 10 minutes ago

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The Miami Dolphins were barely threatening after Rashee Rice scored on the game's first drive in bitterly cold Kansas City

Dates: 13th – 28th January 2024
` coverage: Live text coverage of every game on the ` Sport website and app, plus live radio commentary on ` Radio 5 Sports Extra and ` Sounds every Sunday evening, starting with Green Bay Packers v Dallas Cowboys (9pm-1pm). 30:00 GMT). )

The Kansas City Chiefs survived the historically cold conditions in Missouri and kept their hopes of becoming back-to-back NFL champions alive.

With the temperature at Arrowhead Stadium dropping to -20°C, the Chiefs' playoff game against the Miami Dolphins was the fourth coldest NFL game ever.

And the hosts handled it better, claiming a 26-7 victory to reach the divisional round and stay on track for their third title in five years.

The Houston Texans started their wild card weekend with a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.

Kansas City is aiming to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and they got off to a positive start when Rashee Rice scored an 11-yarder on the game's first drive. Scored a touchdown.

Both sides then proceeded cautiously, with Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa recording just six completions for 94 yards in the first half – 53 of which came from a touchdown pass to former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill.

With a wind chill of -32 C, it was so cold that Chiefs coach Andy Reid had icicles on his mustache, and his team settled for three field goals in the second quarter to lead 16-7, with Harrison Butker scoring in the third quarter added another one.

Miami will regret losing at home to Buffalo last week in the final game of the regular season, as it meant they missed out on second place in the AFC Conference and home-field advantage.

So instead of playing in 70-degree temperatures in Florida this week, they had to face the defending champions in a freezing Arrowhead, and Isiah Pacheco's touchdown ensured Miami exited with a whimper after such a promising season.

Stroud continues his fine rookie season as the Texans defeat the Browns

image source, Getty Images

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CJ Stroud recorded 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions in his rookie season

CJ Stroud outwitted Joe Flacco and led Houston to a commanding home win against the Cleveland Browns in the first playoff game of the season.

Stroud, a 22-year-old rookie quarterback, was just six years old when 38-year-old veteran Flacco made his NFL debut in 2008.

Still, Stroud turned in a composed performance against the former Super Bowl champions and became the youngest starting quarterback to win a playoff game.

The second pick in the 2023 draft, Stroud set a rookie record by throwing three touchdown passes in a playoff game, giving Houston a 24-14 halftime lead.

The Texans, who improved from just three wins in 2022 to a 10-7 record this season, scored back-to-back pick-sixes in the third quarter to put the game beyond the Browns.

After a slow start in Houston, the game came to life with four touchdowns in just over five minutes on either side of the first quarter mark.

Cleveland's Kareem Hunt got into the end zone from a yard out before Stroud hit right back and found Nico Collins, who ran him into the corner.

Flacco then found Hunt for an 11-yard touchdown and on the very next snap, Stroud threw the ball to tight end Brevin Jordan, who slid inside before rushing down the sideline for a 76-yard touchdown.

Just before halftime, Stroud threw the ball to tight end Dalton Schulz for a 37-yard score before the game turned in the Texans' favor.

DeMeco Ryans' men hadn't scored a pick-six all season, but had two of two drives, with Steven Nelson running an interception from 82 yards before Christian Harris did so from 36 yards.

However, he now has 10 interceptions in six games for the Browns – twice as many as Stroud collected in a stellar rookie season.

Houston's Devin Singletary ran for the final touchdown of the fourth quarter as the Texans could afford to bench Stroud, who finished the game with 274 passing yards and no interceptions.