Official Texans @ Browns Game Thread, 9/19/2021

[Arky]

The Texans head to Cleveland this Sunday to take on the Browns Sunday at noon. The Texans are coming off an opening day victory over Jags at home, 37-21. The Browns are coming off a hard fought road loss to the Chiefs, 33-29. While the Texans had a good showing vs. the Jags, the Browns are very capable of making that look like smoke and mirrors. The Texans OL will have their work cut out for them against the Browns high pressure defense. Texan QB Tyrod Taylor may have to use his legs - a lot.

These two met last year in Cleveland with the Browns winning 10-7.

The Browns might be out to prove they can dominate against a weaker opponent or they could be a little flat after the Chiefs game and not take the Texans seriously. I'm betting on the latter.

I've got it Browns 28, Texans 20.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon, 9/19/2021

Announcers = Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta (same as week 1)

The line = Browns by 12½ to 13½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Dallas @ LA Chargers, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = Atlanta @ Tampa Bay, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen

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Prime time:

TNF = NY Giants @ Washington (NFLN)

SNF = Kansas City @ Baltimore (NBC)

MNF = Detroit @ Green Bay (ESPN)

[Keith]

Kinda feeling like the Texans might be a decent pick against the spread once again.

Not sure how Greg Gumbel is drawing a Texans game two weeks in a row, especially that opener.

Tyrod played for the Browns in 2018, so maybe he has a little bit of a revenge game in him this week. I like his willingness to move around to buy time and run if he needs to, just worried how dinged up he'll get as the season progresses. Without him (or ahem DW4), this offense loses all its dynamism.

[Arky]

Browns on the board first with a 1 yard rush from Janovich. The Browns got good field position after the Texan's first turnover of the year when Andre Roberts muffed a punt.

Browns 7, Texans 0

9:56 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Wooo, what a well executed screen pass! Lindsey takes in the screen for 22 yards and a TD.

Texans 7, Browns 7

5:18 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Justin Reid with an INT, the 2nd Texan turnover. Mayfield shaken up on the play.

Let's see if they can do something with it.

Still tied @ 7.

9:40 left in the half.

[Arky]

Taylor gets flushed out of the pocket and runs it in for a 16-yard TD!

Texans 14, Browns 7

7:06 left in the half.

[Arky]

Mayfield scrambles in from the 5 yard line for a Brown's TD.

Texans 14, Browns 14

1:14 left in the half.

[Arky]

Tyrod Taylor and Danny Amendola out with hamstrings. Davis Mills in at QB.

Texans go 3 and out and punt to start the 2nd half.

[Arky]

Short pass to Felton turns into a 33 yard TD score for the Browns.

Browns 21, Texans 14

7:50 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Browns add a 30 yard FG by McLaughlin after the Texan turnover.

Browns 24, Texans 14

4:40 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Mills hits Cooks for the quick 2 yard TD pass.

Browns 24, Texans 21

11:32 left in the game.

Let's go!!!

[Arky]

Chubb runs one in from 26 yards. Browns run game chewing clock and looks unstoppable at times.....

Browns 31, Texans 21

5:52 left in the game.

[Arky]

Eeesh, Slye misses a 41-yard FG. Eh, he's been so good, too. Browns takeover on downs.

That might do it. Texans with no timeouts left at the 2 minute warning.

Still, 31-21 Browns.

[Arky]

Jeez, tough game - a lot of injuries on both sides.

Browns dominated time of possession 35:05 to 24:55.

Both teams with 2 turnovers.

Texans penalized 9/80 - got to get better there.

I suppose Davis Mills will start on Thursday night. Early line has the Panthers favored by 3½.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Keith

Tyrod played for the Browns in 2018, so maybe he has a little bit of a revenge game in him this week. I like his willingness to move around to buy time and run if he needs to, just worried how dinged up he'll get as the season progresses. Without him (or ahem DW4), this offense loses all its dynamism.

Yeesh, I hate being such a good prophet sometimes.

[chuck]

Amidst all the euphoria let's not forget that the Nexans have a head coach who today elected to punt on third down.

One hundred percent on brand, this guy.

[Keith]

Culley on the penalty:
"If I had it to do over again, I would have taken the penalty and given our offense a chance to get the first down, which is what I should have done."

I guess this is better than, say, O'Brien doubling down on his dumbassery. Culley owning up for a mistake is, at least in limited quantity, something that might endear him to his players more.