So, is this the week when the Houston Texans begin a new winning streak?
Currently sitting at 3-5, the Texans must get back to their winning ways long-term if they plan on making a postseason push in the AFC. Right now, no one should be talking about the playoffs, especially since Houston has blown three fourth-quarter leads and remains winless at home.
The good news? Sunday's matchup is on the road, a place where Houston is 3-1.
The Texans will travel to Cleveland for a date with Deshaun Watson and the Browns in Week 10. Cleveland, which could be gunning for a wild-card berth under first-year coach Todd Monken, fell short on Sunday in a battle down in the bayou amid an overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Cleveland plans to start Watson, Houston's
former franchise quarterback, but second-year passer Shedeur Sanders proved his potential by keeping the Browns alive in the Superdome. While throwing for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns, Sanders was also sacked five times. Meanwhile, Cleveland's defense recorded five sacks, headlined by former Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger.
"They're really good players, they're athletic and they're disruptive," Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. "They've got that speed off the ball. They use their hands and they play really hard continuously. They're a handful for sure."
As for Houston, quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for a season-high 384 yards and tied his career high in touchdown passes with five as Houston rolled past the Bolts in a 44-22 victory at SoFi Stadium. Despite a slow offensive start, Houston found a rhythm in the second quarter and never looked back.
The Texans could be dealing with a multitude of injuries following Friday's practice. For the third straight day, rookie offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge did not practice. Running back Woody Marks and defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter also could be in trouble after missing practice on Thursday and Friday.
How do the experts feel about Sunday's showdown between a pair of AFC dark horses desperate to pick up a win for different reasons? Here are their thoughts entering the battle in Huntington Bank Stadium.
USA Today
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Texans
- Jarrett Bell: Browns
- Nick Brinkerhoff: Texans
- Chris Bumbaca: Texans
- Nate Davis: Texans
- Adam Kauffman: Texans
NFL.com
- Jeremy Bergman: Texans
- Brooke Cersosimo: Texans
- Dan Parr: Texans
- Gennaro Filice: Texans
- Bobby Kownack: Texans
ESPN
- Stephania Bell: Texans
- Matt Bowen: Texans
- Mike Clay: Texans
- Jeremy Fowler: Texans
- Dan Graziano: Texans
- Kalyn Kahler: Texans
- Pamela Maldonado: Texans
- Eric Moody: Texans
- Jason Reid: Texans
- Ben Solak: Texans
- Lindsey Thiry: Texans
- Sam Wickersham: Texans
CBS Sports
- Pete Prisco: Texans
- Jared Dubin: Texans
- Ryan Wilson: Texans
- John Breech: Texans
- Tyler Sullivan: Texans
- Dave Richard: Texans
- Jamey Eisenberg: Texans
MMQB
- Albert Breer: Texans
- Eva Geitheim: Texans
- Mitch Goldich: Texans
- Gilberto Manzano: Browns
- Conor Orr: Texans
- John Pluym: Texans
- Matt Verderame: Texans
- Mike Kadlick: Browns
Bleacher Report
- Gary Davenport: Texans
- Brad Gagnon: Texans
- Ian Hanford: Browns
- Kris Knox: Texans
- Maurice Moton: Texans
- Wes O’Donnell: Texans
- Brent Sobleski: Texans
Texans Wire
Cole Thompson: Texans
Ariana Pensey: Texans
Houston Chronicle
Jonathan M. Alexander: Texans
Reid Laymance: Texans
Greg Rajan: Texans
Peter Warren: Texans
Matt Young: Texans
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Week 10 picks: Who the experts are taking in Texans vs. Browns
