3 Big questions Cleveland Browns need to answer vs Texans

3 Questions Cleveland Browns need to answer in Week 2 against the Houston Texans

How are you feeling Cleveland Browns fans after that tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs?

You have endured two straight heartbreaking losses to the Chiefs. But fans, don’t fear, there’s a new team standing in front of the Browns for their home opener, the Houston Texans, who happen to be stacked with former Browns players, from cornerback Terrance Mitchell to linebacker Christian Kirksey and a couple in between like 2018 Browns season-opening quarterback Tyrod Taylor to another cornerback Eric Murray.

To add more fuel to the fire, the Texans won their first game of the season over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This has apparently been noted by Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski who has littered the Browns training facility with posters reminding the players of this early season fact.

There are many questions that I’m sure have rattled through your head, like a pinball machine, after that early-season heartbreak at Kansas City. Let’s see if your questions match up with what’s been rolling around in my head.

How will Cleveland Browns respond after another opening season loss?

When the Browns of 2020 lost last season’s season opener 38-6 against the Baltimore Ravens, most fans of the team were talking to themselves and trying to not overact by the circumstances just presented. We had a new coach, who at the time, most knew nothing about, and a team that had just come off a dismal previous season.

The second game was against the Cincinnati Bengals and on Thursday Night Football and it was a completely opposite type of game from the previous week. Both teams scored points, the Browns ran and threw the ball with efficiency and rolled late to a nice victory.

So what happens this Sunday? The Houston Texans were an unraveling mess a year ago but now they have a new head coach and many new players including what seems to be every former Browns player from previous teams. So they are 1-0 and the Browns of today aren’t.

After that stinging loss, as Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, has suggested should be the feeling amongst his teammates because of how they lost to the Chiefs, you again question what the energy and focus of the team will look like?

This past Sunday, watching that game in person, I’d never seen the Browns move the ball with so much control and poise. I expect this weekend will be much the same. Yes, Mayfield threw an interception at the end of the game as he was trying to throw the ball out of bounds, but that doesn’t mean Mayfield can’t complete a late-game comeback.

Last season, Cleveland played the Texans mid-way through the season, after the Browns were returning from their bye week. It was a low scoring affair in rather yucky weather conditions as the Browns won 10-7. Will that happen again?

Probably not, as both teams racked up the offensive yardage against their opponents a week ago as Cleveland scorched Arrowhead Stadium with 457 yards gained and the Texans gathered 449 yards against their opponent. This is a bit of a homecoming for several Texans that once played for the Browns so I’m expecting some fireworks from both teams.