The Houston Texans take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.
Deshaun Watson returns to NRG Stadium as the starting quarterback for the Browns. Watson says he has nothing but love and respect for the Texans and the McNair family.
The Texans could actually use a win. No, it doesn’t affect their proprietary first-round draft pick as they are woefully “ahead” for securing the No. 1 overall pick. However, they do have Cleveland’s, and a loss helps improve that draft pick’s positioning.
Following along for all of the action from NRG Stadium.
First quarter
15:00 — Houston gets the ball first.
14:53 — QB Kyle Allen throws a deep ball intended for TE Teagan Quitoriano that the rookie can’t exactly corral, but the ball appears to bounce into the air and picked off by the Browns. Ruling on the field is an incomplete pass as the ground caused the ball to bounce. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski challenged the play.
14:53 — The ruling on the field is an interception. S John Johnson is ruled to have intercepted the ball. First down Browns.
14:19 — On third-and-3 from the 50-yard line, QB Deshaun Watson scrambles and throws incomplete as WR David Bell can’t hang onto the ball. Houston turns Cleveland three-and-out.
12:51 — On third-and-3 from the Houston 28, Allen looks for TE Jordan Akins and the pass falls incomplete. RT Tytus Howard gets flagged for holding DE Myles Garrett, and the Browns decline the penalty.
11:53 — Watson pulls his magic and gets out of a sack to hit WR Anthony Schwartz. However, CB Tavierre Thomas strips Schwartz and CB Desmond King recovers at the Houston 49 and returns it to the Browns’ 38-yard line.
9:25 — TE Brevin Jordan incurs a face mask penalty on first-and-10 from the Browns’ 16-yard line.
9:20 — Houston has to face a first-and-25 from the Cleveland 31, which they compound with a false start penalty by Howard.
8:06 — The penalties ultimately doom Houston’s chances of punching it into the end zone. However, K Ka’imi Fairbairn hits a 44-yard-field goal to give Houston an early lead. 3-0, Texans
6:40 — Watson connects with RB Kareem Hunt on a 7-yard pass on third-and-6 from the Cleveland 38.
5:04 — The Browns handoff to TE Harrison Bryant for an 8-yard gain on third-and-1 from the Texans’ 46-yard line.
3:33 — Watson throws a late ball over the middle from the Texans’ 11-yard line on first-and-10. S Jalen Pitre picks off the pass and returns it to the Houston 26-yard line.
Deshaun Watson throwing a red zone INT to JALEN PITRE is as karma as it gets.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) December 4, 2022
Second quarter
13:06 — With the free Watson interception, Houston gets to fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Allen rolls out to his left and dumps off to FB Troy Hairston, who gets blown up at the goal line and drops the ball incomplete. Hairston was injured on the play.
12:00 — The Texans’ defensive line corralled RB Nick Chubb, but DT Roy Lopez gets the credit as the ruling on the field is a safety. 5-0, Texans
9:46 — The Texans punt the ball with their possession off the free kick, and they back up the Browns to their own 1-yard line.
6:11 — Chubb gets one yard on third-and-2 from the Cleveland 35-yard line, which forces the Browns to punt.
4:37 — The Texans go three-and-out as Allen dumps off to RB Dare Ogunbowale for six yards on a third-and-8 from the Houston 10-yard.
4:00 — WR Donovan Peoples-Jones returns a 60-yard P Cam Johnston punt 76 yards for a touchdown. Extra point is good. 7-5, Browns
2:00 — On third-and-2 from the Cleveland 46-yard line, Allen and RB Dameon Pierce blow an RPO handoff and Allen has to fall on the ball at the 50-yard line.
0:49 — Watson appears to throw the ball backward, which the Texans recover for a touchdown, but the ruling on the field is an incomplete pass on third-and-4 from the Browns’ 27-yard line.
0:23 — Allen dumps off to Ogunbowale for seven yards on third-and-10 from the Houston 26.
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Allen: 12/23, 101 yards, INT
Pierce: 11 carries, 57 yards; 2 catches, 15 yards
Akins: 3 catches, 21 yards
Pitre: 5 tackles, INT, pass breakup
BROWNS
Watson: 8/14, 96 yards, INT
Chubb: 8 carries, 37 yards
Peoples-Jones: 2 catches, 41 yards; 2 punt returns, 82 yards, TD
Third quarter
15:00 — The Browns get the ball to start the third quarter.
12:53 — On third-and-4 from the Cleveland 37-yard line, WR Amari Cooper catches a 13-yard pass from Watson for a first down.
10:52 — Watson throws short for Cooper on a third-and-6 from the Houston 46.
10:10 — Allen sneaks, loses the ball, CB Denzel Ward recovers, and returns it four yards for a touchdown. Extra point is good. 14-5, Browns
5:51 — On a third-and-3 from the Cleveland 15-yard line, Pierce loses two yards on a pitch.
5:08 — Fairbairn hits a 35-yard field goal. 14-8, Browns
2:22 — On a third-and-5 from the 50, the Texans defense comes up with a sack of Watson. Credit goes to DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Fourth quarter
13:38 — Watson completes to Cooper for a 10-yard gain on a third-and-7 from the Texans’ 49-yard line.
9:36 — K Cade York hits a 43-yard field goal. 17-8, Browns
9:30 — Allen’s pass gets tipped and plucked out of the air and returned by LB Tony Fields for 16 yards for a touchdown. 24-8, Browns
4:03 — York hits a 42-yard field goal. 27-8, Browns
2:00 — WR Nico Collins catches a 6-yard touchdown pass. Allen’s pass on the two-point attempt falls incomplete. 27-14, Browns
Injuries
2nd Quarter, 13:06 — FB Troy Hairston went down holding his groin area. Hairston was helped to the locker room. The Texans stated Hairston was questionable with a rib injury.