The Baltimore Ravens are getting ready to face the Houston Texans and red-hot rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in the divisional round of the playoffs this Saturday, following their first-round bye.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson praised Stroud when asked if he watched his performance in the Texans’ 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Super Wild Card Weekend.
“I didn’t watch the game live,” Jackson said. “From my experience, he played better than I did from my rookie playoff game, I would say that. He was throwing the ball all over the field, making things happen. He did great. He did great.”
Stroud finished his first playoff game with 21 completions for 274 yards and three touchdowns. The No. 2 overall pick is a frontrunner for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award alongside Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua for his outstanding season.
Jackson was later asked what impressed him most about Stroud.
“I don’t really watch the games, but when I do catch glimpses of other quarterbacks, [I’ve noticed] he has been getting nonstop attention on TV,” Jackson said. “That’s a guy you are going to see day in and day out. [No.] 7 – he is throwing the ball all over the field. Even when one of his star receivers, Tank Dell, went down, he has still been making things happen with the guys he has.”
Baltimore faced Stroud and the Texans in Week 1 of the season, but the rookie has come a long way since his first start in the NFL and should present a challenge for a Ravens’ team looking to make their first AFC Championship appearance in over a decade.
