Official Texans vs. Browns Game Thread, 12/2/2018

[Arky]

The 8-3 Texans host the 4-6-1 Cleveland Browns this Sunday in an early game. The Texans are coming off a 34-17 home win over the Titans; the Browns are coming off a 35-20 road win over the Bengals. The Browns have won their last two (Falcons, Bengals). The Browns have a new (interim) coach in Gregg Williams and his record is 2-1, so far. First matchup between Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, Sunday Dec. 2, 2018

Announcers = Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians

The line = mostly Texans by 6

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

FOX (late) = Minnesota @ New England, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

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Prime time:

TNF = New Orleans @ Dallas (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = LA Chargers @ Pittsburgh (NBC)

MNF = Washington @ Philadelphia (ESPN)

[Arky]

Sean Pendergast - NFL Week 13: Browns-Texans — Four Things To Watch For:

4. Energy level, tough spot
The Texans are coming off about as emotional a Week 12 victory as a team could have, 34-17 against a division rival who beat them earlier in the season, three days after the death of the owner of the team. If you want to re-live the energy in the building that night, then watch this video from the Texans, which deserves an award (if there is such a thing for three minute Twitter videos). It is awesome:

(Video at website)

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Houston Texans
✔
@HoustonTexans
Monday night was for Mr. McNair.

2,083
11:01 AM - Nov 28, 2018
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So how will the Texans' energy level be on a short week of prep, as a decided favorite (the spread is Texans -7), and with a more important game lurking the following week against the Colts? This, to me, is the biggest question about Sunday's game — which Texans team shows up, the one that let the woeful Bills hang around for an entire afternoon, or the one that took the Titans to the woodshed on Monday night? For his part, Bill O'Brien has been doing EVERYTHING possible to diffuse any sense of great accomplishment with this eight game winning streak. In fact, this is a good time to pivot to the next bullet point...

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1. Deshaun Watson, 25 is a magic number
Here are Dehsaun Watson's dropback, sack, and QB hit numbers for the first six weeks of the season:

WEEK 1: 37 dropbacks, 3 sacks, 12 QB hits
WEEK 2: 36 dropbacks, 4 sacks, 11 QB hits
WEEK 3: 43 dropbacks, 3 sacks, 11 QB hits
WEEK 4: 49 dropbacks, 7 sacks, 11 QB hits
WEEK 5: 45 dropbacks, 1 sack, 10 QB hits
WEEK 6: 32 dropbacks, 7 sacks, 15 QB hits

Here are Deshaun Watson's dropback, sack, and QB hit numbers for the next six weeks of the season:

WEEK 7: 25 dropbacks, 1 sack, 5 QB hits
WEEK 8: 20 dropbacks, 0 sacks, 1 QB hit
WEEK 9: 28 dropbacks, 4 sacks, 4 QB hits
WEEK 10: BYE
WEEK 11: 27 dropbacks, 3 sacks, 4 QB hits
WEEK 12: 28 dropbacks, 4 sacks, 6 QB hits

No surprise that the formula for how to deploy Watson changed drastically the week that he was forced to take a bus to Jacksonville for the game, because flying would have endangered his bruised lungs. Twenty-five is the magic number — keep Watson under 25 pass attempts, keep him healthy, win the game.

SPREAD: Texans -5.5
PREDICTION: Texans 27, Browns 21
RECORD: 7-4 SU, 4-7 ATS

More at link.

[Arky]

Texans take the opening kickoff and drive for a 35-yard FG by Fairbairn.

Texans 3, Browns 0

8:58 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Watson hits Jordan Thomas on a 11-yard TD pass.

Texans 10, Browns 0

38 seconds left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Cunningham with the INT of Mayfield. Brings it back to the 1. Play under review... possible TD.....

Ruled a TD! Pick 6!

Texans 17, Browns 0

7:26 left in the half.

[Arky]

Fairbairn adds a 42-yard FG. JJo with the INT of Mayfield started the drive.

Texans 20, Browns 0

3:19 left in the half.

[Arky]

Fairbairn connects on a 48-yard FG with 1 second left in the half.

Texans 23, Browns 0

[Arky]

Browns take the 2nd half kickoff and drive for the TD - Chubb on the 2-yard run.

Texans 23, Browns 7

9:39 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Fairbairn with the 53-yard FG.

Texans 26, Browns 7

5:26 left in the 3rd qtr.

[barrett]

This is how you beat down an inferior opponent. Jump on them from go and then make key plays to keep them down if they show signs of life. Very impressive.

[Arky]

Fairbairn connects on a 38-yarder.

Texans 29, Browns 7

5:46 left in the game.

[Arky]

Mayfield hits Higgins on a 17 yard TD Pass.

2 pt. try no good.

Texans 29, Browns 13

2:58 left in the game.

[Arky]

Final score:

Texans 29, Browns 13

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Colts lose. Texans with a 3 game lead.

Just one offensive TD by the Texans but hard to argue with success.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Arky

Final score:

Texans 29, Browns 13

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Colts lose. Texans with a 3 game lead.

Just one offensive TD by the Texans but hard to argue with success.

Exactly. Built up a commanding lead at the half, sat on the lead and ran the clock out in the second half.
Then the Jags shut out the Colts to leave the Texans with a 3 game lead with just 4 more games to play in the regular season.

[Arky]

Early line has the Texans as about a 4-4½ pt. favorite over Indy next week. Might've opened at 5½ (can't always trust the listed opener) which if true, would mean the early birds are jumping on Indy....

[Keith]

Things have really come together over the past ten weeks for this team in all three phases. Are they a perfect team? Of course not, but this is as solid a team this franchise has possibly ever had. I know they are benefitting from a soft schedule, but they are building confidence and feel as though they can handle any adversity having overcome an 0-3 start.

I have dogged on Zach Cunningham most of the season (and rightfully so), but he played a great game (on his birthday, too, no less). The pick six was awesome, and when RAC uses him appropriately, he can fly all over the field. I think his game has limits, but today I finally saw some of the upside I think the team hoped would surface back when he was drafted.

O'Brien seems to have finally figured out how to be employ Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue as a two-headed backfield. The result has been the best we've seen Miller play into December. Blue is keeping Miller's legs fresher. O'Brien seems to realize that Miller doesn't need to grind out the short yardage stuff, that Blue is actually not too bad at it. Taking incomplete parts and making them better as a function of the whole is one way a head coach can demonstrate his value.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

Things have really come together over the past ten weeks for this team in all three phases. Are they a perfect team? Of course not, but this is as solid a team this franchise has possibly ever had. I know they are benefitting from a soft schedule, but they are building confidence and feel as though they can handle any adversity having overcome an 0-3 start.

I have dogged on Zach Cunningham most of the season (and rightfully so), but he played a great game (on his birthday, too, no less). The pick six was awesome, and when RAC uses him appropriately, he can fly all over the field. I think his game has limits, but today I finally saw some of the upside I think the team hoped would surface back when he was drafted.

O'Brien seems to have finally figured out how to be employ Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue as a two-headed backfield. The result has been the best we've seen Miller play into December. Blue is keeping Miller's legs fresher. O'Brien seems to realize that Miller doesn't need to grind out the short yardage stuff, that Blue is actually not too bad at it. Taking incomplete parts and making them better as a function of the whole is one way a head coach can demonstrate his value.

The RB usage has been excellent the last 2 weeks. Miller is feasting on cutbacks all the way to the backside of zone plays. The backside end is permanently attached to Watson so it's like free money. Blue meanwhile has been used like a less showy version of Marian Barber. Bring him in to pound out yards with a lead. Blue isn't huge but he gets the best of every collision that happens on a football team. He's the classic guy who 'if you need 3 yards he gets you 3 yards, and if you need 5 yards he gets you 3 yards.'

[chuck]

This team has a lot of obvious problems, but I am slowly realizing that we're maybe one TMZ shown Tyreek Hill headlock away from being able to beat anyone in the AFC.

There are a lot of really good teams in the AFC and the playoffs, however they shake out, are setting up to be great.

[HPF Bob]

We are finally seeing what happens when a healthy Watt and Clowney are on the field at the same time while enough other veteran talent is around that can't be ignored.

I'd love to see us have a first-round bye for once. The table is set.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We are finally seeing what happens when a healthy Watt and Clowney are on the field at the same time while enough other veteran talent is around that can't be ignored.

I'd love to see us have a first-round bye for once. The table is set.

It's right there for the taking. They may have to win out. The Texans biggest challenge will be getting by 6-6 Indy and 6-6 Philadelphia - assuming they will win against the Jets and Jags. New England only has Pittsburgh as a serious challenge. OTOH, KC has 3 weeks of Ravens, Chargers and Seahawks - gonna be tough to get through that unscathed. KC "failing" might be the way in but the Texans will still have to take care of their own business and continue winning......