Texans (2-6) at Browns (5-3)
Sunday, 1 ET, FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
TV: Fox
Danny
Browns by 3
Texans’ keys to victory: Houston’s passing offense, led by QB Deshaun Watson, remains one of the NFL’s most potent. Watson needs to keep spreading the ball around effectively and not let the Browns’ defense key on any one receiver. Protecting Watson and mixing in efficient runs from RB David Johnson on early downs will help. The defense must create takeaways. Cleveland’s O- line is strong but can be susceptible to blitzes.
Browns’ keys to victory: Cleveland comes out of the bye week and should get RB Nick Chubb and TE Austin Hooper back into the lineup. The combination of Chubb and RB Kareem Hunt can dominate a Texans defense that has struggled against lesser offenses. DE Myles Garrett has been fantastic this year and he’ll need to continue making impact plays against Watson. Garrett has forced seven takeaways in eight games. He needs help from DT Larry Ogunjobi and DT Sheldon Richardson to keep the Texans from exploiting a soft linebacker corps and poor safety group. Springing rookie KR Donovan Peoples-Jones for a big return would help. He’s been close but hasn’t quite broken a big one.
Matchup to watch: Browns DE Garrett vs. Texans LT Laremy Tunsil. Garrett moves around the formation quite a bit, but he’ll see a lot of Tunsil, a matchup of two of the best players at their crafts.
Who wins? The Browns are rested and reinvigorated with Chubb and Hooper returning. Their run game and ability to create takeaways are too much for the one-dimensional Texans.
Browns 33-27
Sheridan’s line: