Official Texans @ Browns Game Thread, 11/16/14

[Arky]

Pass to Hawkins goes for 25.

Pass to Gabriel gets 12. 4:20 left in the game.

Pass to Gabriel off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Hoyer pressured, throws it away, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass is tipped by Austin right into the hands of Mohamed! Texan's ball!

[Arky]

Blue gets loose for big gainer and also draws the late hit out of bounds penalty. 21 yard run, 15 yard penalty.

Grimes for 3. 3:25 left in the game.

Grimes for 3 or 4. Browns start using timeouts.... 3:06 left in the game.

Blue sweeps right for the 1st down... flags are down....holding on Newton. Makes it 3rd and 8.

Grimes goes left for about 3. Bullock on for the FG on 4th and 6.

Bullock's 50-yarder is good.

Texans 23, Browns 7

2:47 left in the game.

[Arky]

Browns bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 22. Brown's ball.

---------------------------------

Pass to Austin gets 7.

Pass to Hawkins gets about 7 for a 1st down.

Pass to ? goes for 11.

2 minute warning.

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Flags presnap. Offsides Mercilus. Makes it 1st and 5 at the Texan 48.

Pass to Hawkins sails inc.

Pass to Crowell goes to the Texan 29 yard line.

Hoyer's pass sails inc down the sideline.

Short pass to Crowell broken up, inc. Brings up 3rd and 10

Pass to Benjamin is caught but out of bounds, inc. Browns going for it on 4th and 10.

Hoyer's pass sails inc. Texans takeover on downs with 1:10 left in the game.

[Arky]

Texans kneeling it out.

Final score:

Texans 23, Browns 7

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Nice win. The boys really needed this one....

[HPF Bob]

Just when Browns fans thought it was safe to come out of hiding. The lowly Texans come in and bulldoze them behind a rookie RB and QB making his first NFL start.

Some tweet (was it the Chron?) said Texans might pursue Hoyer in free agency. After today? Don't bother. Hoyer is probably better than he was today and Mallett probably worse but Mallett looked by far like the better QB.

Imagine waiting three years for your first NFL start and your first TD goes to a defensive tackle! Nice touch on that throw though. Really put it in a great spot for the (ahem) receiver to catch it.

Ed Houchuli is one of the better refs although I wonder if the lack of PI/def. holding/illegal contact calls was that Jackson and Swearinger weren't back there so the refs couldn't figure out who to call it on. I'm so used to looking for flags on third down, I had to adjust my tv set.

What a draft pick Blue turned out to be. Nice work, somebody.

Say, did you know TEs were still able to catch passes in this league? It seemed like forever for the Texans. Nice TD, Gilbert Grape. Oh, and nice pick, Mr. ref.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Imagine waiting three years for your first NFL start

Didn't Rogers wait behind Favre for 3 years before his first start ?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Didn't Rogers wait behind Favre for 3 years before his first start ?

Yep, something like that..... Going back, I know Steve McNair also saw limited snaps his first couple of years. I'm sure there's others....

What I liked today about Mallet was he had the ball out quick..... I don't think there were many pass plays that lasted longer than 3 seconds - really pleased with that. Quick, decisive - that will beat the blitz every day..... He's still a raw guy and needs to build chemistry with the receivers but he showed he understands the offense.....

Come what may, at least the rest of the season will be a lot more interesting to follow.... Just maybe we can give the Colts/Ravens/Bengals of the league (as well as the Titans/Jags) a real competition in the coming weeks....