Texans-Browns Capsule

HOUSTON (4-5) at CLEVELAND (6-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Browns by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Houston 5-4, Cleveland 6-3

SERIES RECORD - Texans lead 4-3

LAST MEETING - Texans beat Browns 30-12, Nov. 6, 2011

LAST WEEK - Texans had bye, lost to Eagles 31-21, Nov. 2; Browns beat Bengals 24-3

AP PRO32 RANKING - Texans No. 20, Browns No. 12.

TEXANS OFFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (4), PASS (28).

TEXANS DEFENSE - OVERALL (28), RUSH (21), PASS (29).

BROWNS OFFENSE - OVERALL (13), RUSH (11), PASS (16).

BROWNS DEFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (28), PASS (12).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - During bye week, Texans coach Bill O'Brien benched QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for Ryan Mallett, who will make first career start. ... Mallett has appeared in five games during career and attempted just four passes, completing one. ... Mallett and Browns QB Brian Hoyer were teammates in New England, backups behind QB Tom Brady. ... Mallett is 10th QB to start game in team's history. ... Texans have lost four of five. ... Texans RB Arian Foster has 822 yards rushing, second in league, and has scored 10 TDs. ... Texans DE J.J. Watt has 8 1-2 sacks and leads league with 29 hits on quarterback. ... Texans WR Andre Johnson has caught pass in 127 straight games. Johnson needs eight catches to surpass Randy Moss (982) for 10th on career list. ... Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was Browns head coach from 2005-08. ... Browns are alone in first place in AFC North. It's latest they've been atop division in November since 1994. ... Browns have won five of six. ... Browns are 4-1 at home. ... Browns RB Ben Tate was drafted by Texans in 2010 and spent four seasons with club before signing with Cleveland as free agent. ... Hoyer is 9-3 as starter for Browns, including 7-1 at home. ... Browns S Tashaun Gipson leads league with six interceptions. He sustained concussion last week and has missed practice time. ... Browns CB Joe Haden's 77 passes defensed since 2010 lead league. ... Browns have 13 INTs, second most in league. ... Browns are only team with three rushers with over 250 yards. ... Browns have allowed 68 points in second half, second fewest in league.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL