Browns At Texans: Preview and Prediction

The Browns need a win and some help to clinch a playoff berth as they go on the road to visit the Houston Texans

There are eigtht different scenarios in which the Browns can clinch a playoff berth this weekend. Every single one of them requires Cleveland to come home from Houston with a win. From there it gets pretty convoluted, but if they can take care of the one thing they have control over, they'll give Browns fans everywhere an early Christmas gift and be a near lock for the playoffs going into Week 17.

The Browns will miss rookie phenom C.J. Stroud for this matchup, as he couldn't clear the league's concussion protocols in time to play. That means they'll square off with a familiar face in Case Keenum under center. While that may seem like dodging a bullet, Keenum is a veteran in this league and led this upstart Texans team to a win over the Titans just a week ago.

Cleveland will look to reverse some concerning road defensive trends and stifle Keenum and company. Meanwhile, it hopes this magical run from Joe Flacco continues.

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Anthony Moeglin: Browns 23, Texans 6

Houston will have a problem on their hands on Sunday with the Browns passing attack. While the Texans can stop the run with great consistency, they have trouble defending the passing game. Expect Flacco to bounce back from his early struggles last week and for the Browns to let it rip through the air on Sunday. Browns roll and get to ten wins on the season.

Anthony Poisal: Texans 19, Browns 17

There's no denying that the Browns are playing their best football of the season right now with Joe Flacco. But there's also no denying that Cleveland has inexplicably been a much different team on defense when its been on the road this season — the Browns have allowed 30.7 points per game as visitors this year compared to just 13.1 as hosts. Case Keenum isn't a QB who will light up the scoreboard, but DeMeco Ryans has been putting his team in positions to win all year just as Kevin Stefanski has, too — particularly at home, where the Texans are 5-2. The home-road splits are why I think the home team has the edge and why the Browns will have to wait until Thursday to punch a playoff ticket. 

Spencer German: Browns 24, Texans 13

The Browns almost feel like a team of destiny this season. Through all the injuries and adversity they find themselves on the brink of the playoffs if they can get a win and a number of other outcomes to go their way. First things first though, they need to control what they can control. With Stroud, I probably feel a lot different about this matchup. But without him, the Texans offense just isn't the same. All due respect to Case Keenum, he's a fine journeyman backup QB for any team, but I don't know that he can take down this Cleveland defense. The status of Joel Bitonio will be important, because this offensively line looked frail without him. Ultimately Im guessing he plays. Cleveland hasn't won convincingly since Week 10. That changes in Week 16 and the playoffs are officially within reach.