NFL Week 12: Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns

The new classic rivalry of the Browns and Texans continues deep in the Dawg Pound in NFL Week 12!

Texans vs. Browns Overview:
The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns entered the 2008-09 NFL season with high expectations after finishing the previous season with good records. Injuries and the emergence of great teams in their respective divisions have presented sizable hurdles to both teams, and their records have slipped. Even though they may not be playoff favorites, the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns have two potent offenses than can run up the scoreboard. Fans with Houston Texans tickets will see a true offensive football duel in Cleveland.

Houston Texans Offense:
With the fifth-ranked overall offense in the NFL, the Houston Texans have no trouble moving the ball. Fans with Houston Texans tickets are loving rookie RB Steve Slaton, who is a superstar in the making. Steve Slaton’s performance against the Indianapolis Colts carried the entire team to a near victory over Peyton Manning. Fans with Houston Texans tickets love WR Andre Johnson as he provides the best receiving target in the NFL and requires constant double teams. TE Owen Daniels is the unsung hero of the Houston Texans offense. Backup QB Sage Rosenfels has the tools to be great but must mind his mistakes.

Houston Texans Defense:
The Houston Texans defense has not lived up to the lofty offense, and its porous play has cost the Houston Texans a handful of close games. Houston Texans tickets feature DE Mario Williams, the best player on the Houston Texans defense and one of the top pass rushers in the NFL at large. MLB DeMeco Ryans has been beaten up all season but continues to rack up tackles. Rookie DT Frank Okam and Xavier Adibi have come on as good contributors in the injury-racked front seven. While he may not be an instant favorite of fans with Houston Texans tickets, CB Jacques Reeves is improving to be the best player in the secondary.

Cleveland Browns Offense:
A fantastic offensive line led by LT Joe Thomas powers the impressive engine of the Cleveland Browns offense. QB Brady Quinn gets the third start of his career, and the favorite son of Ohio has been doing well. Veteran RB Jamal Lewis is a wrecking ball with quick legs and can wear down defenses. TE Kellen Winslow is back from injury and shows why he is the best at the position in the NFL as he shreds any defense against him. WR Braylon Edwards has gotten over his case of the drops and is back to his Pro-Bowl form. WR Donte Stallworth is finally healthy as well.

Cleveland Browns Defense:
The 3-4 defense of the Cleveland Browns received a big boost from NT Shaun Rodgers. A big load in the heart of the front seven, Shaun Rodgers can take up to three blockers on running plays and makes sacks as well. ILBs D’Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis have benefited greatly from the addition of Shaun Rodgers and can tee off on the running back. OLB Kamerion Wimbley has to find his pass-rushing form again to help get the defense back on track. The Cleveland Browns secondary has been shaky all year with CB Eric Wright as the one standout player.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:
Offensively, the Houston Texans know that Steve Slaton needs to get the ball as much as possible for the team to win. Fans with Houston Texans tickets know that if the dynamic rookie can find a few cutback lanes or get involved on the screen, he can rack up 200 total yards easily. If Steve Slaton can get it going early, then the defense will have to commit to the run and leave Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels in better positions to make plays. Fans with Houston Texans tickets hope that QB Sage Rosenfels can make the throws when it counts and know that he cannot turn the ball over.

The Houston Texans have been bullied by the run all season, and they cannot let Jamal Lewis get a rhythm against their front seven. DE Mario Williams will have his hands full with LT Joe Thomas but must make plays in the running game as well as the pass rush. A defensive tackle really needs to stand up and become a force in the center of the line. MLB DeMeco Ryans can make plays but needs protection from his defensive line. Fans with Houston Texans tickets know that pressure against Brady Quinn is a must in order to slow down Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow in the secondary.

Cleveland Browns Keys to Victory:
The Houston Texans front seven is soft in the middle, and RB Jamal Lewis could have a big day if blockers can get to MLB DeMeco Ryans. LT Joe Thomas is one of the few players in the NFL who can go toe-to-toe with Mario Williams, and this allows the offensive line to target defenders further down field. TE Kellen Winslow will be working on rookie OLB Xavier Adibi and should be able to school the younger player. CB Jacques Reeves is the best player in the Houston Texans secondary, but he should have plenty of problems against Braylon Edwards man to man.

Fans with Houston Texans tickets know their offensive line struggles against 3-4 teams, and the Cleveland Browns know it as well. NT Shaun Rodgers has to collapse the line in order to stop RB Steve Slaton. The ILBs must fill and stay true to their gaps to keep cutback lanes from forming, which is where Steve Slaton is at his most dangerous. It is a given that WR Andre Johnson will be doubled all game, but the Cleveland Browns must not let TE Owen Daniels run free either. Sage Rosenfels is prone to turnovers under pressure but is deadly if given time so the blitz is very important.

Texas vs. Browns Outlook:
Fans with Houston Texans tickets always look forward to games with the Cleveland Browns because the matchup is always thrilling and competitive. The Houston Texans vs. the Cleveland Browns has historically been one of the biggest momentum changers in football, and the outcome often carries over to the next season. Each football team is looking for a win, and a victory would give confidence for the remainder of the season.

With similar records and approaches to the offense, the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns are evenly matched on that side of the ball. The real game will come down to defense and which football team can make the most plays in the turnover battle. Steve Slaton and Jamal Lewis do not fumble the ball often so it should come down to interceptions. Fans with Houston Texans tickets know that Sage Rosenfels can do well if protected, and the Houston Texans have the advantage in the game as long as they can contain the mediocre Cleveland Browns pass rush.