Week 9 Nfl Preview: Houston Texans Double-digit Favorites Over Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have been competitive, but they are struggling to score the ball with any consistency

. Going on the road this week to face a Houston defense that is one of the best in the NFL doesnt provide a lot of insight into whether the Browns will find the solution to moving the ball.

The Texans, sitting in first place in the AFC South, welcome the Browns into town Sunday for the first time in five years, looking to win a third straight game and trying to grab a firm grip on the division lead.

Houston has won three of the last four meetings between the teams, but the last meeting was in 2008 (a 16-6 Texans win in Cleveland). The last meeting in Houston was in 2006, a 14-6 win for the home team.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns were competitive in San Francisco but loss their second straight road game, 20-10. The team has now gone five straight games and six of seven where it has failed to score more than 17 points. The Browns are 1-1 vs. the AFC South this year, beating Indianapolis on the road and falling at home to Tennessee.

The Browns remain competitive thanks to their defense, which ranks second in the league against the pass (172 yards per game) but 26th against the run (127 ypg). The group has recorded 18 sacks and has forced eight turnovers. DQwell Jackson leads the team with 65 tackles with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two recoveries. Ahtyba Rubin and Phillip Taylor both have three sacks, Mike Adams has two interceptions and Jabaal Sheard has two forced fumbles.

The Browns do struggle offensively rating just 20th in passing (218 ypg) and 29th in rushing (88 ypg). Colt McCoy directs the offense, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,618 yards and nine TDs with five INTs/ He has been sacked 16 times. Greg Little has a team-best 29 catches for 262 yards, while Ben Watson has 23 grabs for 277 yards and two scores. Montario Hardesty leads the ground game with 244 yards but is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

Josh Cribbs is averaging 11 yards per punt return.

Houston Texans

The Texans have won two straight division games to take over first in the AFC South following a 24-14 home win over Jacksonville last week. The Texans are 3-1 at home this year, losing only to Oakland (25-20). In the wins, Houston has allowed 14 or fewer points; in the losses, 25 or more.

The defense is one of the best in the league, ranking fifth against the pass (189 ypg) and sixth against the run (97 ypg). The group has recorded 20 sacks and forced 14 turnovers, with two returned for TDs (Brice McCain INT, Wade Smith fumble), while also blocking two kicks (Daniel Manning and J.J. Watt). Brian Cushing leads with 54 tackles, adding a sack and an INT. Jason Allen and Johnathan Joseph both have two INTs.

The Houston offense hasnt been a slouch either, ranking fourth in rushing (142 ypg) and 11th in passing (253 ypg). Arian Foster and Ben Tate key the running attack, combining for 1,040 yards and five TDs (4.5 ypc). Matt Schaub completes 50 percent of his passes for 2,118 yards and 13 TDs with five INTs, and has been sacked 15 times/ Owen Daniels leads the receiving corps with 31 grabs for 415 yards and 3 TDs.

Manning averages 27 yards per kickoff return, and Jacoby Jones averages 11 yards per punt return, taking one back for a TD.

by: Anthony Moretti

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