Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are on top, but C.J. Stroud and the Texans are already knocking

Every remarkable, unanticipated ascent tale begins with a modest beginning. Maybe C.J. Stroud should give the Baltimore Ravens some credit for that.

Stroud felt humbled when he visited Baltimore in Week 1. Despite throwing for 242 yards, a Ravens defence that sacked him five times made the task of a No. 2 overall selection making his professional debut seem unjust.

Nevertheless, he created enough opportunities for the Ravens defence to believe that, despite their success against the rookie, they were fortunate to have acquired him at such an early age.

Linebacker Patrick Queen described Stroud as “that guy,” who would go on to become a fantastic quarterback in the future.

Perhaps not even Queen could have foreseen a surge this abrupt. In the hopes that this season’s hero trip doesn’t end, the probable Offensive Rookie of the Year will lead Houston into Baltimore on Saturday.

Stroud broke the record set by his idol Michael Vick to become the youngest quarterback to win an NFL playoff game after destroying the league’s best pass defence in a 45-14 thumping of the Cleveland Browns.

In a way, the Texans saved the Ravens from a particular type of trauma: it was difficult to accept that former franchise quarterback Joe Flacco would visit Baltimore during the playoffs while representing an AFC North opponent.

If Flacco posed a threat from the past, Stroud does so from the league’s potential future. He’s on the rise; prior to injury-related game absences, he was a strong MVP candidate in a race that seemed to be headed towards Lamar Jackson.

Even though Jackson is at the top of the NFL, Stroud is not far behind. He shown that he is not frightened of the moment in his playoff debut.

“I think that’s just who I am as a person,” Stroud remarked following his wild card victory.

“Since I was a young child, I have been this way. My folks are back there. They are aware. In my family, I’ve always been the youngest. I’ve always been the one who is kind of teased or something, but that toughened me down.

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