Texans' C.J. Stroud, DeMeco Ryans will join rare company if they beat Browns

Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans will accomplish a rare feat if they win in their postseason debut.

According to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, the Texans are the fifth team to make the playoffs with a rookie HC and QB. The others were the 2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2009 New York Jets, 2008 Atlanta Falcons and 2008 Baltimore Ravens. Two of these four teams won their first playoff game.

Houston hosts the Cleveland Browns in Saturday's wild-card matchup at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Browns dominated the Texans 36-22 in Week 16. However, Stroud was sidelined with a concussion. 

"His ability to run and pass is what is going to make a difference in preparing for the Texans," Browns LB Sione Takitaki said Tuesday, per the team's website. "He's a rookie, but he proved he is special. He's a front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. You can learn from your mistakes since they didn't have Stroud the first time around. Having their guy will make it a bigger challenge for us."

Cleveland is first in the league in passing yards allowed (164.7). Despite the challenge, Stroud seems unfazed and insists the team wants to prove itself.

"We have a Super Bowl team," Stroud said Monday on "The Pat McAfee Show." "We have a team that can shock everybody."