2022: Houston, Texas, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) attempts a pass as Houston Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas (2) tries to make a tackle in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
After an ugly divorce and allegation drama, the Texans faced off against former Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson. Following an 11-game suspension, Watson kicked off the season back in NRG stadium and was not greeted well in his return. Watson was booed every time he stepped on the field. Watson even commented on the boos saying, “They’re supposed to boo; I’m a Cleveland Brown now.”
Watson also spoke about returning to NRG stadium “Being my first game back here in Houston was tough… walking into the stadium, and the locker room was different…” Deshaun’s first game back was shaky. He had trouble throwing the ball to his receivers. The Texans’ defense did what they needed to do this week, but the bad play of the offense and special teams negated all the good the defense did. To start the 1st quarter, the Texans received the ball first. With just their first play, Allen attempted a deep pass to rookie Quitoriano who dove for the ball, causing the ball to pop up in the air Brown’s defender Johnson came away with an interception giving Cleveland the ball. Deshaun runs on the field for the first time in 2 years and is met with boos.
Deshaun’s first drive goes three and out leading to a punt. Texans offense returns to the field, and Allen hits Dorsett on a short pass for a pickup of 11 yards. Pierce gets the handoff gaining 7 yards. Allen throws two incomplete passes ending the drive in a punt. Watson gets back on the field and hands the ball off to Chubb, who gains 5 yards; Watson throws a short pass to Schwartz that gets punched out by Thomas and is then recovered by King, giving the Texans the ball. Pierce gets the handoff and picks up a gain of 6 yards. Pierce gets the handoff again and picks up a gain of 3 yards. Allen passes short to Akins, who gains 11 yards.
The Texans commit a 15-yard face mask penalty and lose 15 yards; then false starts a play after making it 1st and 30. Pierce gets the handoff and gains 6 yards. Pierce gets the ball again and gains 5 yards on that carry. Allen attempts to pass to Collins, but the pass is incomplete, resulting in a 44-yard field goal by Fairbairn, bringing the score to 3-0. Watson comes back on the field and hands off to Chubb for a pickup of 18 yards. Chubb gets the handoff again and picks up 4 yards, Watson attempts a pass to Cooper but throws it short. Hunt gets the handoff and picks up 7 yards extending the Browns’ drive; Hunt gets stuffed in the backfield for negative 2 yards.
Watson passes to Hunt for a pickup of 11 yards, then Bryant carries for 8 yards extending the drive. Watson hits Peoples-Jones deep for a pickup of 27 yards. With pressure on his face, Watson attempts a pass to Cooper, but the rookie safety picks it off. Pitre returns for 29 yards. Allen and Texans’ offense comes back on the field, and Allen throws an incomplete pass intended for Collins; Pierce gets the handoff and picks up 11 yards extending the drive. Pierce gets handoff again and picks up 9 yards, followed by a 6-yard gain extending the drive; Allen then passes to Collins for 13 yards picking up the 1st down. Ending the 1st quarter 3-0, at the start of the 2nd quarter, Allen passes to Akins for a 6-yard pickup. Allen then hands off to Ogunbowale for a 1-yard pickup. With 4th and 1, the Texans go for it. Allen attempts a pass to rookie fullback Hairston who is hit, and the pass falls incomplete Hairston is injured on the play, and the Texans turn the ball over. The Browns’ offense gets back on the field at the 2-yard line.
Chubb gets the handoff and only gains one yard. The Browns then jump offsides making it half the distance to the goal; Chubb gets the handoff and gets hit in the backfield for a negative yard gain. The Texans’ defense gets a safety making the score 5-0. Due to the safety, the Texans’ offense gets back on the field. Pierce gets the ball but is stopped at the line of scrimmage. Allen then throws a pass to Pierce, gaining one yard and ending the drive with a punt. Watson gets back on the field and throws a pass to Cooper for a pickup of 8 yards. Hunt gets the handoff and gains 7 yards picking up the first down. Watson passes to Brown for an 11-yard pickup and first down. Watson runs for 8 yards, but a holding penalty erases Watson’s run. Watson answers right back with a 14-yard pass to Peoples-Jones, followed by a one-yard rush by Chubb, ending the drive in a punt.
Allen and the Texans get back on the field, and Pierce gets the handoff picking up 2 yards. Allen attempts a pass to Jordan that falls incomplete Allen throws a pass to Ogunbowale for a pickup of 6 yards ending the drive with a punt. Johnston punts the ball off, and Peoples-Jones returns it 76 yards for a touchdown making the score 7-5. Allen gets back on the field, passes to Pierce for a 14-yard pickup, and follows that with a 3-yard pass to Moore.
Allen fumbles the snap and gets back on the ball ending the drive with a punt. Both teams’ offenses end their drives with punts ending the 1st half with a score of 7-5. The Browns start the 2nd half with the ball. Chubb gets the handoff and picks up 9 yards; Watson passes to Cooper for 9 yards picking up the 1st down. Schwartz gets the handoff picking up 6 yards; Watson passes to Cooper for 13 yards picking up the 1st down but shortly going three and out after. Texans’ offense gets back on the field, and Allen handsoff the football to pierce for no gain; shortly after, Allen fumbles the ball recovered by Ward for a touchdown extending the Browns’ lead to 14-5. The Texans get back on the field; Pierce receives the handoff for a 3-yard gain, and the Browns commit a roughing the passer penalty for 15 yards and an automatic first down. Allen passes to Dorsett for a 7-yard pickup, then hits Jordan for a 14-yard pass picking up the 1st down.
The Browns again get penalized with a 15-yard unnecessary penalty. Pierce then carries for 6 yards then gets hit for a negative 2-yard loss; Fairbairn kicks a field goal bringing the score to 14-8. Cleveland and the Texans punt the ball on their next offensive drives.
After the Texans punt, Watson attempts an incomplete pass to Felton; Hunt then gets a carry and picks up 15 yards for a first down ending the 3rd quarter.
The Browns then drive down the field, kicking a field goal and extending their lead to 17-8. Allen and the Texans’ offense get back on the field and immediately throw an interception for a touchdown by Fields II, bringing the score to 24-8. The Texans punted on their next drive as well as the Browns, but due to a fumble by King, the Browns defender Fields II recovered the fumble giving the Browns the ball. The Browns go on to kick a field goal making the score 27-8. The Texans’ offense gets back on the field and makes some things happen on this drive. Pierce carries for a 7-yard pickup, then Allen throws deep and finds Collins for a pickup of 16 yards. Allen then throws two incomplete passes making it 4th down. The Texans’ go for it. Allen finds Moore for a 39-yard pickup, then Collins for a 6-yard touchdown, but couldn’t get the two-point conversion making the score 27-14. Unfortunately for the Texans, the Browns could kneel the ball three times to end the game.
Defensively for the Texans, it was a great game that was neglected by mistakes on offense and special teams. Next week we have a Texas showdown where the Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans.
Which Texas team will win the football standoff? Tune in next week for the results.
