HOGAN'S DEBUT MISFIRES
QB throws three interceptions, gets flagged for safety in first start.
Browns quarterback Kevin Hogan HOUSTON — provided a spark in his first NFL start, but it was for the wrong team.
Hogan threw three interceptions and committed an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone for a safety as the Browns fell 33-17 to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
With Browns coach Hue Jackson benching rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer because of his struggles through five games, Hogan received the starting nod and went 20-of-37 passing for 140 yards and a touchdown with the three picks for a rating of 38.1. Adding injury to insult, CBS’ telecast showed Hogan having his ribs checked on the sideline during the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson made the Browns pay for passing on him in the draft. He went 17-of-29 passing for 225 yards and three touchdowns with an interception for a rating of 107. He became the first rookie in NFL history to throw at least three touchdown passes in three consecutive games.
Watson told CBS he received a text message from Jackson on draft day April 27 that said “be ready,” play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon said during the telecast. According to Catalon, Watson provided the revelation Friday.
Of course, the Browns picked defensive end Myles Garrett first overall and didn’t nab Watson when he was there for the taking at No. 12 overall. They traded the 12th pick to the Texans and received the No. 25 overall selection, which they used on safety Jabrill Peppers, and the Texans’ 2018 first-round choice.
With their eternal quarterback problems on full display, the Browns are now 0-6 for the third time since their rebirth in 1999. They dropped their first six games in 1999, when they finished 2-14, and last year, when they went 1-15. This regime led by Jackson, head of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta is 1-21 since it took control last year. The Browns are also 2-31 dating to the 2015 season.
Hogan basically gifted the Texans (3-3) eight points in their first game since they lost superstar defensive end J.J. Watt and standout outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries.
Repeatedly overthrowing targets and missing them high, Hogan became the first Browns quarterback to be plagued by three interceptions in the first half since Brandon Weeden in 2013.
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph had two of the interceptions and returned the first one 82 yards for a touchdown to give the Texans a 16-3 lead with 11:08 left in the second quarter.
Hogan gave the Texans another two points when he was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety and a 26-3 advantage for the Texans with 10:10 left in the third quarter.
Watson helped the Browns, too, but only after he punished them enough for the Texans to capture a 30-point cushion. Garrett had a sack late in the second quarter and he pressured Watson again early in the fourth quarter when cornerback Jason McCourty intercepted a pass intended for wide receiver Will Fuller and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown. McCourty’s pick-six off Watson allowed the Browns to cut their deficit to 33-10 with 13:27 left in the fourth quarter.
In garbage time, Hogan threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Seth DeValve to trim the Texans’ lead to 33-17 with 1:03 remaining. The Texans recovered the onside kick, though, and never came close to losing control.
The Texans went ahead 30-3 when Watson capped a 13-play, 65-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to receive DeAndre Hopkins with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
They led 24-3 at halftime after defensive breakdowns by the Browns contributed to Watson’s 39-yard touchdown pass to Fuller with 41 seconds left in the opening quarter and his 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Braxton Miller with 3:04 remaining in the second quarter.
The Browns scored their only points of the first half when Zane Gonzalez made a 41-yard field goal to tie the score 3-3 with 3:15 left in the opening quarter. Gonzalez missed field goals of 52 and 39 yards last week.