2026
Week 10 · Sunday 1:00 PM ET · Huntington Bank Field
vs
Texans offensevsBrowns defense
Season numbers through Week 8: 7 games for Texans, 8 for Browns. Ranks are out of 32; #1 is the best offense or the stingiest defense.
Tight ends feast
Browns give up 8.0 targets a game to tight ends (21st), against a league average of 7.6. Texans' tight ends produce 9.0 (5th).
Deep left is open
Browns are worst against deep left throws, allowing +0.42 EPA per attempt. Texans send 5% of their throws there. That is a small part of their offense so far.
Checkdowns go nowhere
Browns give up 18 yards a game to running backs (1st), against a league average of 32. Texans' running backs produce 21 (26th).
EPA per play
Call this one even. Texans average +0.02 EPA per play (13th). Browns allow -0.02 (13th). League average is +0.00.
Players to watch
Texans
C.J. StroudQB · 160/247 · 1867 yds · 11 TD · 1 INTEPA per dropback +0.12 · 15th
Woody MarksRB · 77 car · 271 yds · 2 TD · 14 recEPA per touch -0.14
Dalton SchultzTE · 33 rec · 322 yds · 0 TD · 43 tgtEPA per target +0.23 · 22nd
Xavier HutchinsonWR · 21 rec · 258 yds · 1 TD · 40 tgtEPA per target -0.04Will Anderson Jr.Left Defensive End · 31 tackles · 7.5 sacks · 1 PD7.5 sacks · T-1st in the NFLDanielle HunterRight Defensive End · 17 tackles · 4 sacks · 4 PD4 sacks · T-22nd in the NFL
Browns
Deshaun WatsonQB · 163/249 · 1806 yds · 7 TD · 3 INTEPA per dropback -0.02 · 24th
Quinshon JudkinsRB · 101 car · 342 yds · 3 TD · 21 recEPA per touch -0.15
Denzel BostonWR · 26 rec · 409 yds · 3 TD · 53 tgtEPA per target +0.11
Harold Fannin Jr.TE · 35 rec · 411 yds · 3 TD · 51 tgtEPA per target +0.26 · 17thDenzel WardLeft Cornerback · 29 tackles · 3 INT · 9 PD3 INT · T-2nd in the NFLMason GrahamLeft Defensive Tackle · 16 tackles · 4 sacks4 sacks · T-22nd in the NFLThe Texans lead the series 8–7 since 1999 (they first met in 2002). Jan 13, 2024, at NRG Stadium: the Texans won 45–14. C.J. Stroud started at quarterback for the Texans and Joe Flacco for the Browns; DeMeco Ryans and Kevin Stefanski coached.
The last 5
| 2023 · Wk 19 · playoffs | CLE 14 at HOU 45 |
| 2023 · Wk 16 | CLE 36 at HOU 22 |
| 2022 · Wk 13 | CLE 27 at HOU 14 |
| 2021 · Wk 2 | HOU 21 at CLE 31 |
| 2020 · Wk 10 | HOU 7 at CLE 10 |
2026 records
| Texans | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2–5 | 5–3 |
| Division | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Conference | 2–3 | 3–3 |
| Other conference | 0–2 | 2–0 |
| Home | 0–4 | 3–0 |
| Away | 2–1 | 2–3 |
| Last 5 | LLWWL | WLWWL |
| Streak | Lost 1 | Lost 1 |
| Points a game | 23.6 – 24.3 | 17.4 – 21.6 |
Every meeting since 1999, regular season and playoffs, from nflverse's game list, which starts in 1999; the all-time series goes back further. Franchises that moved count as one team (the Raiders, Chargers and Rams). Home and away are from the Texans' side. Records are this regular season.
Texans offense · 3WR 1TE
- QBC.J. Stroud#7 · 160/247 · 1867 yds · 11 TD · 1 INT
- RBWoody Marks#4 · 77 car · 271 yds · 2 TD · 14 rec
- WRNico Collins#12 · 24 rec · 329 yds · 3 TD · 35 tgt
- WRMarvin Harrison Jr.#18 · 9 rec · 125 yds · 2 TD · 21 tgt
- WRXavier Hutchinson#19 · 21 rec · 258 yds · 1 TD · 40 tgt
- TEDalton Schultz#86 · 33 rec · 322 yds · 0 TD · 43 tgt
- LTAireontae Ersery#79
- LGKeylan Rutledge#66
- CEvan Brown#63
- RGEd Ingram#69
- RTTrent Brown#77
Browns defense · Base 4-3 D
- RDEJared Verse#8 · 17 tackles
- RDTMaliek Collins#96 · 19 tackles · 3.5 sacks
- LDTMason Graham#94 · 16 tackles · 4 sacks
- LDEIsaiah McGuire#57 · 20 tackles · 3 sacks
- WLBEaston Mascarenas-Arnold#42 · 11 tackles
- MLBCarson Schwesinger#49 · 72 tackles · 1 sack · 1 PD
- SLBQuincy Williams#5 · 52 tackles · 1 sack · 3 PD
- RCBTyson Campbell#7 · 33 tackles · 3 PD
- LCBDenzel Ward#21 · 29 tackles · 3 INT · 9 PD
- NBMyles Harden#26 · 28 tackles · 1 INT · 6 PD
- SSGrant Delpit#9 · 34 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 4 PD
- FSRonnie Hickman#33 · 48 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 2 PD
Starters from each team's current depth chart (nflverse, from ESPN), drawn in the offense's base three-receiver set against the defense's base front. The nickel back, the extra defensive back most teams use against three receivers, is drawn lighter. Left and right are as the offense sees the field. The toggle at the top flips which offense is drawn.
| Stat | HOU off | Favors HOU · Favors CLE | CLE def allows | NFL avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| EPA per play | +0.02#13 | -0.02#13 | +0.00 | |
| Success rate | 42%#17 | 42%#10 | 44% | |
| Yards per play | 5.6#10 | 5.3#11 | 5.4 | |
| Explosive play rate | 10%#12 | 12%#32 | 9% | |
| Passing | ||||
| Pass EPA per dropback | +0.11#13 | -0.03#9 | +0.03 | |
| Sack rate | 6%#11 | 7%#10 | 7% | |
| Running | ||||
| Run EPA per carry | -0.15#25 | -0.02#27 | -0.08 | |
| Yards per carry | 3.4#29 | 4.7#28 | 4.1 | |
| Money downs | ||||
| 3rd down conversion | 38%#25 | 40%#14 | 41% | |
| Red zone TD rate | 58%#19 | 52%#11 | 61% | |
| Targets by position | ||||
| WR yards per game | 180#6 | 138#13 | 147 | |
| TE yards per game | 65#8 | 59#23 | 55 | |
| TE targets per game | 9.0#5 | 8.0#21 | 7.6 | |
| RB receiving yards per game | 21#26 | 18#1 | 32 | |
Texans: EPA per throw
Browns: EPA allowed per throw
Green gains more than expected, red loses value. Cells with fewer than 5 throws are grayed out.