Official Texans vs. Browns Game Thread, 12/4/2022

[Keith]

Watson showing some familiar pocket mobility. His passes are lacking a bit of touch, but is has been two years since his last game action. Jacoby Brissett though subs in for Watson on a short 3rd-and-1 at midfield and converts the first down following a handoff.

Watson re-enters and finds Donovan Peoples-Jones for 27 yards into the redzone.

INTERCEPTION! Watson play action to center of the end zone picked by Jalen Pitre returned to Texans 26. Man, how many times have I seen Watson get picked throwing into the end zone... the more things change, right?

Texans 3-0
3:35 remaining in 1st

[Keith]

FLEA FLICKER_ish ALERT - Pep Hamilton calling a with new playbook I guess. Pass goes to B Jordan for 20 yards.

Pierce gains 11 yards on a second run across midfield, then 9 yards and 6 yards on his next two carries. Much better look from running game than past couple weeks. Completion to Collins for 13 yards moves the offense into the redzone.

1st quarter ends with the Texans sitting on 1st-and-10 on the Browns 15-yd line.

3-0 Texans

[Keith]

Ogunbowale subs in and takes a 2nd down carry for 6 to the 3 and a new set of downs. Jump ball play to Collins in back corner of the endzone is incomplete. That needs to happen, Allen just off target. Allen calls a timeout on 3rd-and-goal.

Handoff on third down goes to Ogunbowale, stopped at 1. Pep back into his old bag of tricks. Texans go for it on 4th down. Incomplete at goalline to Hairston. Barf, Pep.

Browns get the ball at their own 1-yd line following the turnover on downs.

Texans 3-0
13:02 remaining in the 1st half

[Keith]

SAFETY!

Front seven led by Maliek Collins gets a push. Nick Chubb tackled in his own endzone by Roy Lopez.

So the Texans essentially eschew the three-pointer for two. Darryl Morey would be disappointed in today's NBA.

Browns to punt.

Texans 5-0
11:53 remaining in half

[Keith]

Ensuing Texans drive stalls around midfield. Cam Johnston's punt is a beaut, downed at the 1-yard line.

Hairston questionable to return with rib injury, so I guess Pep can rule out any more 4th down FB passes.

Watson gets the Browns unburied from their own goalline with a couple high percentage completions, including one to former Texan Pharoah Brown. Holding call on Peoples-Jones negates what would've been a first down run by Watson. Chubb stuffed on a 3rd-and-short, Browns punt from their 35.

56-yard punt, no return. Yuck. Texans will start next drive from their own 8.

Texans 5-0
5:20 left in half

[Keith]

Allen has a second down pass go through both of Brevin Jordan's hands. Seeing this half maybe why Jordan has spent most gamedays on the inactive list. Checkdown throw on third caught by Ogunbowale but is short.

Johnston booms a punt long, 60 yards, but Peoples-Jones returns it to the house, 76 yards. Extra point is good.

Texans 5, Browns 7
3:41 remaining in the half

[Keith]

Wow, Pierce caught a ball from Allen in the flat and just murdered a Browns defender (Tony Fields), running helmet-first at him for 14 yards and a first down. Another angry run from the rookie. The reception puts him over 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season.

Allen complete to Jordan from midfield for 5 yards sets up a 3rd-and-2 from the Browns' 46. Two minute warning. Allen fumbles the handoff to Pierce. This time Johnston punts to the corner inside the 10 for no return.

Browns offsense takes over from their 9 with 1:22 to play. Defensive holding on Collins gives them an extra 10 yards from the spot.

On 3rd down, Watson is stripped attempting a pass. Jerry Hughes picks it up and goes into the endzone. Officials later say it is incomplete... it was, arm was moving forward. Browns punt a whopper, 66 yards. King has a decent 19-yd return to the 26, 0:32 left on the clock.

Allen incomplete on 1st down, nearly picked on 2nd down. 3rd down pass to Ogunbowale is short, so the Browns call timeout to see the Texans punt again before halftime. Browns go for a block over a return, so Peoples-Jones decides to fair catch it, weird.

With 0:11, Browns choose to handoff then call a timeout with 0:02. Then another handoff.

Whatever.

5-7, Browns
Halftime