4 Turning Points: Pick-6 hurts Browns early in Houston

HOUSTON -- Analyzing four key moments in the Browns’ 33-17 loss to the Texans. For the first time all season, the Browns had a little momentum on their first offensive series of the game. Trailing 3-0, Cleveland picked up back-to-back first downs and neared midfield following a Kevin Hogan scramble on third down. On a second-and-7 from the 49, Hogan found Kasen Williams for what appeared to be a big first down. Williams took a short pass and cut up the field for 17 yards and into field goal range. A flag, though, nullified most of the damage, as running back Isaiah Crowell was penalized for an illegal block in the back. Instead of first-and-10 from the Texans’ 35, the Browns had a second-and-3 at the 47. Two plays later, they punted, marking the sixth straight game they came away with no points on the first drive. The Browns have been much better this season at stopping the big pass play, but a long Deshaun Watson touchdown throw gave Houston a lead it would not relinquish. Following a Larry Ogunjobi encroachment penalty, Houston had a second-and-2 from the 39 and the flexibility to take a shot. Watson dropped back and promptly saw Will Fuller IV streaking to the right of the field with no one around him. He hit the speedster in stride, and Fuller did the rest for the first touchdown of the game. The play was reminiscent of the big plays T.Y. Hilton picked up at Cleveland’s expense Week 3. It was the one big gash Houston, which was otherwise methodical in its offensive approach, had against the Browns, but it hurt. Cleveland had a chance to kick a field goal or even tie as it drove into the Houston red zone early in the second quarter. One bad throw changed everything, and the Texans were back in the end zone. On a second-and-15, Hogan looked for Duke Johnson Jr. on a short pass but threw it well over the running back’s head. Johnathan Joseph grabbed it in stride and coasted down the sidelines untouched for an 82-yard interception return touchdown, the first of the season against the Browns. Joseph wasn’t done, as he nabbed another interception off Hogan near the end of the half. Hogan threw three interceptions but his first was the only one that led to Texans points. The Browns got their first touchdown of the game with their first defensive touchdown of the season. With Cleveland trailing 33-3 early in the fourth quarter, Myles Garrett applied heavy pressure to Watson, who rolled to his left in search of an open receiver. He launched the ball in Fuller’s direction but it went well over his head and into the hands of Jason McCourty. The veteran cornerback cut to the left before darting down the right sidelines for the 56-yard interception return touchdown. McCourty leads all Cleveland defenders with three interceptions. He’s also forced two fumbles.

News

4 Turning Points: Pick-6 hurts Browns early in Houston