Cleveland is 5-3 on the year, but lost two of three games heading into the bye week.
CLEVELAND — Football is back on the shores of Lake Erie, and the Browns are set to begin the second half of the 2020 season with a crucial showdown at home.
Cleveland welcomes the Houston Texans to FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday, looking to get back on track after limping into the bye week. The club is 5-3 on the year, but has lost two of its last three games, with the only victory coming in the final minute against a rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals squad.
The Browns had a bit of a health scare this past week when offensive lineman Chris Hubbard presumably tested positive for COVID-19, but thankfully no other players were affected. What’s more, several key contributors will return from the injured list, including Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb.
The Texans were seen by most as one of the top contenders in the AFC coming into the season, but stumbled to an 0-4 start that resulted in the firing of head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien. Despite solid play from quarterback Deshaun Watson, Houston is still just 2-6, but they are now being coached on an interim basis by a familiar face: Romeo Crennel, who led the Browns to a 24-40 record from 2005-08.
What follows is a drive-by-drive live blog of today’s action, with the most recent plays and updates towards the top. Stay tuned for analysis throughout the day on 3News and WKYC.com.
3RD QUARTER
10:35: A Corey Liuget sack of Baker Mayfield helps lead to a Browns punt, which DeAndre Carter returns to the Texans 29.
13:57: Former Brown Duke Johnson gets a nice gain on a catch-and-run, but the Texans are unable to convert from there. Bryan Anger’s punt goes into the end zone, and Cleveland will start at its own 20.
2ND QUARTER
0:24: The Browns drive into Texans territory, but are stopped on downs at the 37, where Houston will take over with all three timeouts remaining.
4:20: Houston ends up stalling at the Cleveland 30, in part due to another sack of Deshaun Watson. Rather than attempt a 48-yard field goal, Ka’imi Fairbairn opts for a pooch punt that pins the Browns at their own
9:33: The Browns get a first down on a nice throw from Baker Mayfield, but Jarvis Landry gets called for a questionable taunting penalty to push the team back. The Texans subsequently get a stop, and take over on the Cleveland 49-yard line after a solid return by Will Fuller.
12:54: Deshaun Watson leads the Texans all the way to the Browns 2-yard line, but on 4th-and-goal, Myles Garrett and Andrew Sendejo get to the quarterback for the stop. Cleveland holds and takes over at its own 4.
1ST QUARTER
4:47: The Browns return the favor with a three-and-out of their own. Jamie Gillan punts to the Houston 29, where the Texans will start.
6:19: The Texans go three-and-out and are forced to punt. The Browns will take over at their own 22.
8:27: The Browns start with the ball and march down the field, but a bad snap by JC Tretter forces an intentional grounding penalty by Baker Mayfield after the team got near the goal line. Cody Parkey still converts a 41-yard field goal, and Cleveland takes an early 3-0 lead.
PREGAME
1:25 p.m. Both teams have retaken the field. Kickoff is expected to take place in about 10 minutes.
1:20 p.m. Despite the bad weather, the Browns at least seem to be having fun!
1:04 p.m. Lightening has been spotted in the area, and the teams are headed to the locker room while fans have been told to shelter in place. The game has been delayed at least 30 minutes.
12:58 p.m. Expect the weather to be a factor today. Much of Northeast Ohio is currently under a wind advisory or severe thunderstorm warning, with gusts of up to 70 miles per hour expected.