2026
Week 10 · Sunday 1:00 PM ET · Huntington Bank Field
vs
Browns offensevsTexans defense
Season numbers through Week 8: 8 games for Browns, 7 for Texans. Ranks are out of 32; #1 is the best offense or the stingiest defense.
Wideouts feast
Texans give up 196 yards a game to wide receivers (32nd), against a league average of 147. Browns' wide receivers produce 129 (23rd).
Deep right is open
Texans are worst against deep right throws, allowing +1.32 EPA per attempt. Browns send 5% of their throws there. That is a small part of their offense so far.
Pressure problem
Browns take a sack on 12% of dropbacks (32nd). Texans get home on 8% (6th). League average is 7%.
Explosive play rate
Call this one even. Browns create explosive plays on 8% of snaps (24th). Texans give them up at 10% (22nd).
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.
Browns offense · 3WR 1TE
- QBDeshaun Watson#4 · 163/249 · 1806 yds · 7 TD · 3 INT
- RBQuinshon Judkins#10 · 101 car · 342 yds · 3 TD · 21 rec
- WRDenzel Boston#12 · 26 rec · 409 yds · 3 TD · 53 tgt
- WRKC Concepcion#1 · 33 rec · 352 yds · 0 TD · 49 tgt
- WRJerry Jeudy#3 · 16 rec · 171 yds · 0 TD · 24 tgt
- TEHarold Fannin Jr.#44 · 35 rec · 411 yds · 3 TD · 51 tgt
- LTSpencer Fano#55
- LGZion Johnson#77
- CElgton Jenkins#74
- RGAustin Barber#58
- RTTytus Howard#71
Texans defense · Base 4-3 D
- RDEDanielle Hunter#55 · 17 tackles · 4 sacks · 4 PD
- RDTSheldon Rankins#98 · 20 tackles · 2 sacks · 1 PD
- LDTTommy Togiai#72 · 36 tackles · 1 PD
- LDEWill Anderson Jr.#51 · 31 tackles · 7.5 sacks · 1 PD
- WLBHenry To'oTo'o#39 · 17 tackles · 0.5 sacks · 1 PD
- MLBAzeez Al-Shaair#0 · 58 tackles · 2 PD
- SLBJake Hansen#35 · 36 tackles · 1 sack · 1 INT · 2 PD
- RCBKamari Lassiter#3 · 44 tackles · 1 sack · 5 PD
- LCBDerek Stingley Jr.#24 · 17 tackles · 4 PD
- NBJalen Pitre#5 · 24 tackles · 4 PD
- SSReed Blankenship#6 · 44 tackles · 1 INT · 3 PD
- FSCalen Bullock#2 · 30 tackles · 1 INT · 4 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 | CLE off | Favors CLE · Favors HOU | HOU def allows | NFL avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| EPA per play | -0.08#25 | +0.03#22 | +0.00 | |
| Success rate | 42%#18 | 41%#8 | 44% | |
| Yards per play | 5.1#23 | 5.4#18 | 5.4 | |
| Explosive play rate | 8%#24 | 10%#22 | 9% | |
| Passing | ||||
| Pass EPA per dropback | -0.06#23 | +0.07#20 | +0.03 | |
| Sack rate | 12%#32 | 8%#6 | 7% | |
| Running | ||||
| Run EPA per carry | -0.19#27 | -0.03#25 | -0.08 | |
| Yards per carry | 3.6#27 | 3.8#12 | 4.1 | |
| Money downs | ||||
| 3rd down conversion | 32%#30 | 42%#19 | 41% | |
| Red zone TD rate | 47%#31 | 68%#24 | 61% | |
| Targets by position | ||||
| WR yards per game | 129#23 | 196#32 | 147 | |
| TE yards per game | 57#16 | 46#10 | 55 | |
| TE targets per game | 7.0#20 | 6.3#5 | 7.6 | |
| RB receiving yards per game | 40#9 | 21#6 | 32 | |
Browns: EPA per throw
Texans: EPA allowed per throw
Green gains more than expected, red loses value. Cells with fewer than 5 throws are grayed out.