Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/4/2022

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

Where to watch: CBS

DraftKings: Browns -7

FanDuel: Browns -7

BetMGM: Browns -7

Caesars: Browns -7

Browns: 4-7 (3rd place, AFC North)

Texans: 1-9-1 (Last place, AFC South)

Browns: won 23-17 (OT) vs. Buccaneers

Texans: lost 30-15 at Dolphins

Well, we have finally arrived. This is the game that we have waited for in what seems like the entire season. The Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans should not be the talk of the town this week, but it is what it is. And you can say all you want that the suspension was too short, maybe too long in some cases for whatever reason people might think, but don't try to tell me that the NFL didn't have any play in this because they knew that this was going to happen. And when these teams meet on Sunday in Houston, there's nothing else that's going to be talked about in the NFL than this game right here.

Deshaun Watson will make his Cleveland Browns debut this Sunday against his former team. Watson with selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft and wasn't an instant difference maker the minute he stepped on the field. He ranks second in franchise history in passing yardage and touchdowns and his 104.5 career passer rating is second best all time. That is the talent that the Houston Texans had since 2017. And of course, there are a number of off-the-field factors that contributed, likely, to the Texans trading Watson to Cleveland this summer. That's not the issue, although it is a major issue.

The part that I look to when discussing this trade and when discussing the overall complexion of Houston is that they somehow found a way to screw everything up and it is still the most mind-boggling situation that could have ever happened to Houston. Now don't get me wrong. The Texans still found a way to recoup some assets to get some draft picks, and will benefit greatly from the future of this deal. Cleveland needed a franchise quarterback, issues in all, and now have their guy going forward.

But when we look at the 20-plus year history of the Houston Texans I can only look back and see the ineptitude at quarterback that has been there minus Matt Schaub and of course Watson. David Carr was a bust, Davis Mills isn't any better, and Houston is likely going to be drafting a quarterback in the first round, likely with the first overall pick and they will once again have the pick of the litter. And this is the overall punishment of their crimes for being so consistently mediocre for so long that it has now come to this.

The Texans are coming off a 30 dashed 15 loss to the surging Miami Dolphins last week. Mills wasn't even starting in this game period it was Kyle Allen getting the start for Houston after he completed 26 of 39 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. In what area is that even remotely acceptable? I understand that it is the dolphins that Houston was playing, I do understand that Miami is a very good team and will be considered a contender in the AFC this year. But how do you only amass 215 yards on 26 completions and you've thrown the ball 39 times when you have a rookie running back in Dameon Pierce who has been as efficient carrying the ball as anyone could have possibly imagined?

It's so frustrating that I have not even talked about Cleveland yet because I'm so fixated on this pathetic 1-9-1 franchise. I want to talk about Cleveland and I want to discuss the tremendous job that Jacoby Brissett did navigating Cleveland to four wins in 11 games despite not really being given the biggest vote of confidence through those first eleven games and knowing that his starting job would be thrown away the minute Watson was activated from suspension. I want to talk about the fact that the Browns were incredible in their come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week that was highlighted by an incredible one-handed catch from David Njoku to tie the game, and Amari Cooper making big plays after having a horrendous drop not too long ago in the fourth quarter.

I would love to talk about those things. But we can't because of the storyline at hand. And the fact of the matter is that when Watson takes the field on Sunday in Houston, he is likely going to be booed out of the stadium and he is likely going to get a lot of vitriol thrown his way. But would anybody be surprised if for one time, especially against this team that has been inept for so long, Watson would lead his team to victory over the pathetic Texans? I surely would not.

I don't know if Watson is going to have a big game, or if he's just going to have an average game to where he puts up decent numbers and Cleveland finds a way to win. I'm not rooting for the person. But I am rooting for the player to torch Houston one more time. Browns by 21

Browns are 11-23 ATS in conference games the last 3 seasons.

Browns are 141-181 ATS after the first month of the season since 1992.

The over is 28-12 in Texans home game off 2 straight unders all-time.

Passing: Jacoby Brissett -- 2,608 yards, 12 TD, 6 INT

Rushing: Nick Chubb -- 1,039 yards, 12 TD

Receiving: Amari Cooper -- 792 yards, 7 TD

Defense: Myles Garrett -- 10 sacks

Passing: Davis Mills -- 2,144 yards, 11 TD, 11 INT

Rushing: Dameon Pierce -- 788 yards, 3 TD

Receiving: Brandin Cooks -- 520 yards, 1 TD

Defense: Jerry Hughes -- 6 sacks