Cleveland Browns vs. Texans: Predictions on Baker Mayfield’s return to Texas
By Randy Gurzi
Writer: Mike Lukas
In the story that is the 2018 Cleveland Browns, they find a way to beat the Houston Texans in Week 13.
It’s important to remember: this Browns-Texans matchup isn’t about a 4-6-1 team trying to beat an 8-3 team.
Given that the Browns completely revamped their leadership just three weeks ago, and given that the team has lit up across the board ever since, it’s fairer to say this game is about a 2-1 team traveling to beat a 3-0 team.
This game is about two hot AFC teams who are on a roll trying to end the other’s win streak.
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It’s about thriving playmakers going head-to-head and prevailing: Baker vs. Watt, Garrett vs. Watson, Landry vs. Reid and Ward vs. Hopkins.
Or Dorsey forbid, it’s about Joseph vs. Fairbairn and a nail-biting finale.
In the story that is the 2018 Cleveland Browns, they absolutely beat the Houston Texans in Week 13.
They have to.
No way Mayfield has the kind of ridiculous-drama-filled week he’s had, the kind of rookie-of-the-week-and-month games he’s played and comes up short on Sunday.
No way Freddie Kitchens’ game plan suddenly falls flat or he forgets how to help Baker distribute the ball to the playmakers to score touchdowns.
No way Williams suddenly forgets how to lead or his defense suddenly doesn’t hold, or Myles suddenly forgets how to sack or Denzel suddenly forgets how to disrupt.
On paper, the Houston Texans are better than the Cleveland Browns, because on paper the stats from before Williams and Kitchens took over are included.
In terms of momentum, though, this is a battle between two teams coming off multiple wins believing they’ve got what it takes to sustain their streak and end their rival’s.
In the story that is the 2018 Cleveland Browns, they rise above what’s expected of them and beat the Houston Texans in Week 13.
They have to.
Otherwise, the story’s nothing new, and in case you haven’t been paying attention, everything’s new about these Dorsey-Williams-Kitchens-Baker Browns.
And as Kitchens just told the world: these Browns don’t back down from anybody.
Predicted score: Browns 24, Texans 20