Gonna get better

It's right there in the injury report for wild-card weekend as the 2023 National Football League playoffs commence. 

In the only game that matters to Browns Nation, the Houston Texans placed 11 players on that report after Friday's practice, seven limited and designated as questionable with only one (defensive end Jerry Hughes) ruled out for Saturday's game.

The Browns should be so fortunate. Numbers like that were a weekly occurrence during the regular season. And now after 17 games, they have hit the injury jackpot. 

They doubled the Texans with 22 names on their report, 14 of whom fully participated Friday. That list included wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who are expected to play. Cornerback Denzel Ward, who tweaked a knee in practice Wednesday, is listed as questionable after a limited practice.

Definitely out for the Browns are safety Grant Delpit (groin), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) and kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring). 

Bottom line: Advantage Browns. And why not?

They've played just about the entire season with vital contributors in all phases of the game who have been sidelined at one time or another for various stretches of time picked up by their brethren on the bench. This team somehow found ways to win. It's a bit of a cliche, but this team numerous times this season refused to lose.

They made plays at crucial junctures of games that ultimately led to a victory. When the game was on the line, everyone took turns coming through. Hopkins with all those clutch field goals is a perfect example.

When he came on board after Cade York kicked himself out of Cleveland, Hopkins arrived with a career percentage of less than 50% on field goals from 50 yards or more. He's been perfect from that distance, winning several games in the final seconds.

You don't get to 11-6 in the regular season by accident. The Browns did it the hard way at times by (1) imposing their will on the opposition and (2) ramping up their skill level with regard to reaching back for that little extra and overachieving, all the while utilizing five different quarterbacks. 

Even the oddsmakers are convinced. The game's in Houston. Rookie quarterback C. J. Stroud, who was sidelined a few weeks ago when the Browns rolled the Texans, 36-22, is back and yet the Browns are favored by 2.5 points.  

Stroud, who has the NFL offensive rookie of the year award all but locked up, hasn't faced a defense quite like the Browns'. You can bet he'll get plenty of intel from Case Keenum and Davis Mills, who were sacked three times in the earlier game.

Stroud will find out he can expect plenty of company at any time and from just about anywhere on the field from Jim Schwartz's bag of tricks. And don't expect zone looks from a team that thrives on man and press coverage. 

Stroud achieved a large portion of his success early on with 5-9 rookie wide receiver Tank Dell, who caught 47 passes for 409 yards and seven touchdowns in his first 11 games before going down with a broken leg.

Nico Collins has stepped up and become more dangerous in a big way. The 6-4 wideout checks in with 80 grabs for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. Look for 6-2 Cleveland cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. to draw this assignment with Ward questionable at best.

Stroud lately has also discovered the talents of tight end Dalton Schultz in short-yardage situations that help sustain drives. That's a situation that could come to light considering the Browns have had problems this season with tight ends.

The one big difference the Cleveland offense faces this time is a Texans pass rush that was not at full strength last time. Edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr., who have accounted for 20 of the 46 Houston sacks, are healthy.

Their targets are the Browns' biggest weakness on offense: Tackle, where free-agent left tackle Geron Christian Sr. and second-stringer James Hudson III hang out. They are most effective when the football is out of the quarterback's hand within three seconds. Anything longer generally results in a negative play.

In the overall big picture for this one hovers one Cleveland weapon that can overcome any and all deficiencies. He's why -- the defense is I-A -- the Browns are alive and in position now to go where no Cleveland Browns team has ever been.

Joe Flacco has been nothing short of otherworldly since being freed from forced semi-retirement because several NFL teams that needed a quality quarterback passed on him and no doubt are regretting it in stunned silence.

The Browns are three victories away from the Super Bowl because of him. In five games, he has thrown for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight picks and delivered four straight games of 300+ yards. He has made tight end David Njoku a Pro Bowler. He has made Cooper a Pro Bowler for the fifth time.

He has brought not just a spark and a belief in this team, but a feeling of pride to the City of Cleveland. As unbelievable as this reads, this former Baltimore Ravens quarterback, who has brought so much misery to the city and fandom in the past, is crafting quite a story.

Where and when will it all end? It won't be Saturday down in Houston.

The Cleveland defense comes alive after last weekend's meaningless slog in the Cincinnati regular-season finale and shows Stroud what he missed the first time around with at least two sacks from Myles Garrett &. Co. and a pick by Emerson. Flacco won't extend his 300+ yard streak to five games. He'll get something more important. A victory and an invite to the next round: The Divisional championship. Make it:

Browns 27, Texans 23