The Cleveland Browns have these three players to keep an eye on when they battle the Houston Texans on Sunday as they will likely affect the outcome
All eyes will be on the Cleveland Browns this week when they take on the Houston Texans in Week 13. It won’t be your normal Sunday for the Browns as they welcome quarterback Deshaun Watson for his debut game. He’s been suspended for most of the season so his return is a big deal for this 4-7 team that needs a spark to make a late run.
Cleveland got a big boost this past week when they upset Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jacoby Brissett made some great plays down the stretch that helped propel the Browns to the win. He hit tight end David Njoku with a spectacular pass in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter as Njoku was able to grab the hot pass with only his left hand and maintain control as he fell down toward the back of the endzone.
With that new energy for the Browns, can they carry that over to this next game? There will be several players to watch in this game to see if that positive energy can carry over.
3 Cleveland Browns to watch in Week 13
No. 2: Martin Emerson, CB
It seems as if the rookie cornerback from Mississippi State was everywhere in the game against the Buccaneers last Sunday. Brady continually tried targeting his favorite receiver Mike Evans and almost every time Emerson was right there breaking up the pass.
The energy from Emerson has also been very noticeable as the season has moved along. He’s growing more confident with every snap and that’s fun to see. He’s recorded 50 tackles this season and has never shied away from contact. He’s more aggressive than other cornerbacks on the team and that’s been refreshing to see.
Against the Buccaneers, who have great wide receivers like Evans and Chris Godwin, Emerson was targeted nine times but only allowed one reception and knocked down four of those passes. The word “menace” comes to mind when you watch Emerson each week. He’s making a lot of progress and creating issues for opposing teams because of his unwavering efforts.
No. 2: Nick Chubb, RB
Nick Chubb rebounded last week in the win against Tampa Bay. He finished with 116 yards on 26 carries, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime. After two lackluster performances prior to that, it was good to see Chubb return to his reliable self. There’s been a lot made on the Chubb’s usage by the team in terms of carries this season. Wherever you fall in that debate, there’s no denying that he’s one of the best running backs to ever suit up for the Browns.
He’s now recorded four straight seasons of more than 1,000 yards rushing. Only former Cleveland legend Jim Brown has accomplished such a mark. We’re now in the most important stretch of the season with Watson returning and Chubb can help his teammate out by continuing his excellent campaign and sharing some of the pressure.
Chubb has a history of doing well in games against the Texans. He’s played three games against them and has carried the ball 39 times for 252 yards including three touchdowns. One of the most memorable moments for the running back happened in the 2020 season when the Browns hosted the Texans and held on to win 10-7.
On his final run of the afternoon, Chubb was able to recognize the situation, and rather than score a touchdown and risk giving the ball back to Houston, he ran out of bounds at the one-yard line, so his offense could take a knee and run out the clock.
We can all look forward to seeing what Chubb can do this Sunday. With the spotlight on his quarterback, it could be a big day for him.
No. 1: Deshaun Watson, QB
This is what Browns fans have been waiting for this season and they’re going to get their chance to watch Deshaun Watson for the first time in the orange and brown this Sunday.
After months of waiting to get to this point, it will be good to finally witness for the first time what the future of the team will look like. There are a lot of outspoken opinions on both sides of the aisle regarding the quarterback’s return — and even his status as an NFL player.
Some won’t watch or attend games due to the ugly situation surrounding Watson off the field. Wherever you stand on the topic, he will be playing quarterback for your favorite team on Sunday, and the franchise believes he’s the piece they’ve been missing.
Watson’s career to this point will show a player that has shown incredible promise, which is why he landed a $230 million deal — fully guaranteed at that.
The Browns have never had an elite quarterback like Watson — not in the modern area anyway. With his bounce back there will likely be a period of time for the quarterback to get back to being the same type of elite quarterback he was before he left the game for the 2021 season and most of this year.
But what we will all be treated to in the end could end up being routine postseason appearances for Cleveland and ultimately a Super Bowl win. Enjoy watching the game on Sunday and especially with Watson, Emerson, and Chubb leading the way.
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