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

[Keith]

The Texans (1-9-1) are back home hosting the debut of Deshaun Watson as the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns (4-7). Interesting looking at the TV map at how CBS and the league are burying this game in as few markets at possible. Gee, I wonder why?


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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon CST, 12/4/2022

Announcers = Spero Dedes, Jay Feely

The line = Cleveland by 7

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) =Kansas City @ Cincinnati, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = Miami @ San Francisco, Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston

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Prime time:

TNF = Buffalo @ New England

SNF = Indianapolis @ Dallas (NBC)

MNF = New Orleans @ Tampa Bay (ESPN)

[Keith]

Warning: Graphic photo of Cal McNair hugging Deshaun Watson pregame as a cucked Hannah turns away.
https://twitter.com/IntheBullseye/st...55031387824129

As for the game, following a touchback, first play is reviewed and ruled an interception as the pass bounces up in the air off TE Teagan Quitoriano and grabbed by John Johnson III. Tough luck for QB Kyle Allen. Away we gooooo....

DW4 and the Browns gets the ball shy of midfied and go 3-and-out with a 7-yd carry from Chubb and two incompletions.

0-0
14:04 in the 1st quarter

[Keith]

Texans wearing their "color rush" blue jerseys with the blue pants.

Eno Benjamin, Amari Rodgers, and Brevin Jordan all active today. All eyes on Watson, but this is Jadeveon Clowney's first game back in Houston, too.

First down pass to Dorsett looks nice, followed by a 7-yd run by Pierce, almost surpassing last week's total. Holding on Tytus Howard penalty declined as a 3rd down pass is incomplete. Punt to Browns returned to their 30.

0-0
12:38 remaining 1st

[Keith]

FUMBLE! Watson's first completion turns into a loose ball by receiver Anthony Schwartz. Forced out by Tavierre Thomas, recovered by Desmond King.

Better drive initially this time by the Texans. 11-yd pass to Jordan Akins moves them into the redzone, but a facemask penalty on Brevin Jordan bounces them back out. Then a foul start on Howard makes it a 1st-and-30. Rough start for Howard today.

On 3rd-and-19 from 25, pass to Nico Collins falls incomplete. Not a bad idea given the down and distance having already been in field goal range.

44-yd field goal is good by Ka'imi Fairbairn to start the scoring. First lead the team has held in five games.

Texans 3-0
8:02 left in 1st quarter

[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

[Keith]

Browns start the half going 8 plays for 41 yards. Illegal block penalty by Desmond King on the punt retun puts the Texans at their own 2 to start their drive.

Allen just tries to run a QB sneak to get a little room, but fumbles before he can get his knee on the ground. Tony Field knocks it out, Denzel Ward 4-yd return for the touchdown. Extra point is good.

5-14 Browns
10:10 left in the 3rd quarter

[Keith]

Roughing the passer by the Browns to start the drive. Brevin Jordan then makes a 2-handed snag for 14 up to the Browns' 37. Texans then run a bit of a trick play that costs them 3 yards, but flags fly as the Browns commit unnecessary roughness for the auto 1st to the to their 22-yd line.

Pierce gets a 6-yd run to move the offense into the redzone. Drive stalls though, and Fairbairn kicks the 35-yd field goal.

8-14 Browns
5:08 left in the 3rd

[Keith]

Big run by Chubb for 21 yards gets the Browns to midfield. Watson is sacked on third down though by Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, his first of the season. 40-yd punt will set up the Texans offense from their own 11-yd line with 1:31 left in the quarter.

In other division action, A.J. Brown having a revenge game for his new team, the Eagles, against his former one, the Titans. Has 7 catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns early in the 2nd half there, Eagles up 28-10.

Back in Houston, Allen overthrows Collins on 3rd-and-9. Johnston's punt is 52 yards, returned short by Peoples-Jones to their own 33.

Watson misfires low and short on 1st down, obviously still rusty. Kareem Hunt runs for 15 to the 48 to end the quarter.

8-14 Texans
End 3rd quarter.

[Keith]

Browns seem to be realizing the best way to beat the Texans is on the ground. Peoples-Jones though called for another penalty, this time an illegal block in the back, pushing the Brown back to the edge of field goal range. Watson scrambles on 2nd down for 11 yards. Deep pass on 3rd down is into the endzone, and no one is within 15 yards of it.

Cade York's field goal attempt is converted from 43 yards.

8-17 Browns
9:36 remaining in the game

[Keith]

Allen's pass is deflected and pick-six'd by Tony Fields. He was waiting for a screen play to set up, and disaster ensued. Allen is who we thought he was.

Extra point is good.

21 of the 24 points scored by the Browns today have been by defense and special teams. God bless America, this team is bad.

8-24 Browns
9:30 remaining

[chuck]

This is by a considerable measure the worst team the organization has ever fielded. Caserio has had several years to rework the team and has managed to make it worse. I don't know how much worse he can make the team with his various moves, but I suppose we'll find out.

[Keith]

King fumbles a punt return, recovered by Fields. Browns quit trying hard, because they don't have to, kick a 42-yd field goal to go up 27-8 with 4 minutes to play.

Allen finally connects again with Collins, just his second of the day, for 16 yards to the 48. Then a pass to Chris Moore where the receiver niftly dodges some tacklers for 39 yards to the Browns' 6.

Out of the shotgun, Allen then hits Collins once again, this time for a 6-yd touchdown. Two point conversion fails.

14-27 Browns
1:57 remaining

[Keith]

Fairbairn onsides kick attempt doesn't work. Browns kneel it out.


Texans 14, Browns 27
FINAL

Some stats:
Allen 20/39 201, 1 TD, 2 INT, 53.5 QBR

Pierce 18-73, 3-22. Had 55 yards on the ground after the first quarter...

B Jordan 4-46
Moore 3-46
Collins 3-35, 1 TD
Akins 3-21

Pitre 16 tkl, 1 INT

27:44 TOP

Watson 12/22 131, 0 TD, 1 INT, 53.4 QBR, 21 yds rushing