CLEVELAND - Three key matchups, storylines and areas of concern as the first-place Cleveland Browns (6-3) try to win their fourth straight game Sunday against the Houston Texans (4-5)...
1. No team is running the ball more often than the Browns, though the Texans are close. Only three teams are running for more yards than the Texans. Both teams play good defense, the weather is supposed to be less than ideal and, yep, you're not alone in thinking that 17 points -- and maybe 33-35 minutes possession time -- could win it. Perhaps the most interesting storyline is that the Texans were off last week but practiced all this week without their workhorse, Arian Foster, though the team won't rule him out. If Foster can't go that leaves the Texans with a first-time quarterback and a sixth-round rookie running back averaging 3.4 yards per carry. The Browns will go with Terrance West as their starting runner again, and we'll see if former Texan Ben Tate gets the next crack or if Isaiah Crowell has earned more touches and earlier touches. The run has set up everything for both teams, and the team that runs best Sunday is probably going to be the team that wins.
2. Andy Dalton's meltdown gift-wrapped the Browns last win, but the offense established the run early and set up the pass. That's clearly the formula the Browns would like to use and the one that's served them best. This week, they have to block J.J. Watt and a pretty good defensive front to get that run going and set up some shots for Brian Hoyer, who by now is used to playing without Jordan Cameron but should benefit from the return of Andrew Hawkins. Hoyer said this week that Watt is "a beast...as good as everybody says he is," and that's pretty good. Last week the Browns offensive line played its best game since the loss of Alex Mack and that has to continue, here and into the future, for the Browns to keep winning.
3. With Ryan Mallett making his first start for the Texans, Hoyer sees an old friend and a familiar situation. These chances don't come when you think they might, and they don't come often. The Browns have surpassed just about everyone's expectations thus far and Hoyer has established himself as the steady leader. The Texans are going to Mallett because they need to see what they have in him before they make the decision that will define the Bill O'Brien Era. The Browns and Hoyer have big decisions looming, too, but everybody involved is having too much fun and too much success right now to really think about that. Sure, folks on both sidelines will be watching Hoyer closely on Sunday -- but that's no different than it is every week. The Browns have a narrow division lead, a bunch of momentum and confidence and some winnable games ahead. There are always storylines, there are always injuries and opportunities, there's always something extra to watch. This one shapes up, though, as simple, straight-ahead football -- and the team with the fewest turnovers and better quarterback play can win it.
