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 passing record and tied another in Houston’s playoff game against the Browns.

In fact, he did this before halftime. Stroud passed for 236 yarsds and three touchdowns as the Texans built a 24-14 lead over Cleveland. That’s the most ever by a rookie quarterback in 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, Jan. 17, 2017. That was Prescott’s first-ever playoff start. But it didn’t ended 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.

Also, Stroud’s three touchdowns tied Prescott for most ever by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game. And there’s an entire half to play 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.