Texans prepare for challenge of Browns QB Mayfield
The Houston Texans are continuing to make things happen after starting slowly the first three weeks of the season only to turn their fortunes around heading into their matchup with the Cleveland Browns. With a two-game lead in the AFC South, the Texans are now focused on the Browns and pushing their win streak to nine games.
“They do a really good job,” head coach Bill O’Brien said of the Browns. “The line does a good job. They’ve got a really talented offensive line. They’ve got guys up there that have a lot of talent. (Quarterback) Baker (Mayfield) does a good job of getting rid of the ball. Sometimes, he escapes, obviously, does a great job with his feet, receivers get open, the tight end – second-leading receiver – is (David) Njoku. Guy is an excellent player. Jarvis Landry, I think Jarvis Landry’s one of the better receivers in the league. It’s just a combination. They do a really good job.”
The Browns have found direction with their interim head coach Gregg Williams and the consistent play of Mayfield. Mayfield led the Browns to a convincing win over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend and the Texans know Mayfield is their top priority to slow down.
“He can move around, he can run around, makes plays, tries to find a way to make plays,” Texans J.J. Watt said. “He can do it with his feet, do it with his arm, so we’ve got to try to contain him.”
The past two weeks the Texans have registered 11 sacks but the Browns’ offensive line has not given up a sack the past two weeks. Something has to give this weekend and the Texans know they have to get to Mayfield.
“Sounds like they’ve been doing a good job,” Watt said of the Browns’ offensive line not giving up a sack in 125 dropbacks. “I have a job to do and that’s my job to go out there and hopefully end that streak. They’ve obviously been doing a good job. It’s going to be a good battle.”
This will be an intriguing matchup not only because of Mayfield but the game will feature two of the more talented quarterbacks in the National Football League. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has faced off against Mayfield in college when both were in the college playoffs with their respective teams.
“Got the W, went on and went to the national championship,” Watson said of playing against Mayfield in college. “Didn’t pull that off, but it was a good battle. It was a fun time competing against another great quarterback, another good friend of mine, we support each other and we pull for each other. So, all success and love to him and everything he’s going to continue to do in this career.”
SERIES HISTORY: 10th regular-season meeting. Texans lead series, 6-3. In the last matchup, the Texans beat the Browns 33-17 at NRG Stadium with Watson throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is 2-0 in both games they played the Browns with their first win coming in 2014 at FirstEnergy Stadium when Ryan Mallett led the Texans to the win.
