Live Game Updates: Texans Fall To Browns 27-14
The 1-9-1 Houston Texans host the 4-7 Cleveland Browns in a highly-anticipated battle on Sunday at NRG Stadium. Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson makes his NFL return against his former team after an 11-game suspension.
Watson's debut for Cleveland comes 700 days since the last time he played in a regular-season game, which he did for the Texans during the 2020 season. Houston finished the season with a 4-12 record.
After four seasons with the Texans, Watson asked to be traded and eventually moved to the Browns in exchange for a package that included three first-round draft picks. Watson's Browns' contract is an unprecedented $230 million fully guaranteed, the richest in NFL history.
"We're telling our guys we're gonna see the best version of Deshaun and I think you go into every game that way," Texans Coach Lovie Smith said. "He hasn't played for a long period of time."
Houston drafted Watson with the No. 12 pick during the 2017 NFL Draft. In 54 career games played, Watson threw for 14,539 yards and 104 touchdowns while completing 67.8 percent of his pass attempts.
In his last game, Watson completed 71.1 percent of his passes for 365 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The Texans fell 41-38 to the Tennessee Titans.
RECORDS: Houston Texans (1-9-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-7)
ODDS: The Texans are 7-point underdogs to the Browns.
GAME TIME: Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 12 p.m. CT
LOCATION: NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
TV/RADIO: CBS | KHOU11, SPORTS RADIO 610 | 100.3 THE BULL | MEGA 101
1st Quarter:
On the first play of the game, Kyle Allen's incomplete pass resulted in an interception for the Browns. Rookie tight end Teagan Quitoriano was Allen's target.
Change of Possession
During Watson's first offensive drive of the game, the Texans held the Browns to a three-and-out. Punt.
Change of Possession
Allen's second pass attempt was a completion to wide receiver Phillip Dorsett for 10 yards. On the next play, rookie running back Dameon Pierce rushed for eight yards. The Texans ended the drive with a holding penalty called on offensive lineman Tytus Howard. Punt.
Change of Possession
On the Browns' second drive of the game, wide receiver Anthony Schwartz fumbled following a pass attempt from Watson. Houston's defensive back Desmond King recovered the fumble.
Change of Possession
Houston's latest drive was plagued by penalties that pushed the team back to 1st-and-25. The Texans' possession ended with a 44-yard field goal made by Ka'imi Fairbairn.
Texans 3, Browns 0
Change of Possession
Running back Nick Chubb began the drive by rushing for 13 yards. On 3rd-and-6, Watson made his first completion of the game to running back Kareem Hunt. Later, Watson completed a 27-yard gain by wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. The Browns' drive ended with Watson throwing an interception to rookie defensive back Jalen Pitre.
Change of Possession
The Texans recorded 73 yards on 12 plays. Houston's drive ended with Allen throwing an incompletion to full-back Troy Hairston on 4th-and-1 at the goal line. Hairston suffered a rib injury. His return is questionable.
End of 1st
2nd Quarter
Change of Possession
On the Browns' second play, the Texans recorded a safety after Chubb was stopped in Cleveland's end zone. After receiving the ball, the Texans went three-and-out on their latest possession.
Texans 5, Browns 0
The Browns recorded 35 yards on seven plays. Punt.
Change of Possession
The Texans could not get anything going on the offensive side of the ball, which resulted in a punt. As the kick-returner, Peoples-Jones recorded a 76-yard return to put the Browns ahead by two.
Browns 7, Texans 5
Outside of a 14-yard gain by Pierce, the Texans had another inefficient offensive drive that resulted in a punt.
Change of Possession
Watson's pass attempt nearly resulted in a fumble. Defensive lineman Jerry Hughes recovered the fumble and scored a touchdown, but the officials ruled Watson's pass attempt as an incompletion. Punt.
Change of Possession
The Texans recorded another three-and-out. Punt.
End Of Half
3rd Quarter
The Browns received the ball to open up the second half and recorded 41 yards in eight plays. Punt
Change of Possession
On the Texans' first drive of the second half, Allen fumbled a snap that led to linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah recording a touchdown after the recovery.
Browns 14, Texans 5
The Texans put together one of their best offensive drives of the day. Houston recorded 61 yards on five plays, but their drive ended in their second made field goal of the game.
Browns 14, Texans 8
Change of Possession
Outside of a 21-yard rushing attempt by Chubb, the Browns could not record anything on the offensive side of the ball. Texans' defensive lineman Ogbonnia Okoronkwo recorded a sack on Watson to end the drive.
Change of Possession
Three-and-out. Punt.
Change of Possession
End Of 3rd
4th Quarter
The Browns recorded 42 yards on 11 plays. Their drive ended in a 43-yard field goal made by Cade York.
Browns 17, Texans 8
Change of Possession
Allen threw his second interception of the game, which led to a touchdown by Browns' linebacker Tony Fields II.
Browns 24, Texans 8
Houston recorded 11 yards on four plays. Punt.
Change of Possession
The Texans held the Browns to a three-and-out and forced a punt. King fumbled during his kick return, which led to the Browns' recovery. The extra possession led to the Browns scoring on a 42-yard field goal.
Browns 27, Texans 8
Change of Possession
Allen completed a 39-yard attempt to wide receiver Chris Moore. Moore's catch led to the Texans recording their first touchdown of the game with Allen finding Nico Collins in the end zone.
Browns 27, Texans 14
Change of Possession
End of Game
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