The Houston Texans travel to take on the Cleveland Browns in NFL Football action on Sunday. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on CBS. Currently the odds for the game have the Browns favored by about a field goal to get the win.
Houston is getting right around a field goal here, with the news that Arian Foster is being ruled out. Foster has been one of the better backs in the NFL this season and not having him against a Cleveland team that gives up better than 134 yards on the ground per game to opponents this season. That number ranks 28th worst in the league, but without Foster in the lineup, can the Browns find a way to slow the Texans down?
Houston averages 137 yards on the ground themselves per game, ranking fourth best in the NFL. Foster, though, has nearly 600 yards more on the ground this season than Alfred Blue, the second Houston back. Foster also has seven of the eight rushing TDs be Houston the season, the other belonging to former starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Speaking of him, the Texans announced earlier this week that Ryan Mallett will get the start at QB instead of the grizzled veteran.
Cleveland sits atop the AFC North with a 6-3 record and coming off a beatdown win over Cincinnati in their last game. Brian Hoyer has been an amazing surprise this season for the Browns, quieting the Johnny Manziel talk while winning at the same time. Hoyer has thrown for 2,200 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and Cleveland has won three straight games overall. The Browns could move the football through the air in this one as the Texans defense ranks 29th in the league in pass defense.
The Browns defense is going to have to play solid in this one. While Houston won't be with their best player, they still have a chance at moving the football and scoring some points. Mallett is making his first career NFL start, so expect the Browns to pressure him and keep the blitzes coming. Cleveland is 4-1 in home game this season and should play well in their first game as being in sole possession of first place in nearly 20 years.
Free Pick: Cleveland 24, Houston 17
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