Revitalised Browns can be competitive against red-hot Houston

Sky Sports Action, 6pm Sunday

Confidence should be through the roof at the NRG Stadium as two of the NFL's most content sides clash.

Home side Houston have become the first team ever to win eight straight games after losing their first three in a season and they entered Week 13 with a two-game lead in the AFC South and as owners of the third seed in the conference.

However, Cleveland arrive in Texas with a huge spring in their step after winning a road game for the first time in 26 attempts when thrashing Cincinnati 35-20 last week - they led 35-7 early in the second half.

The Browns made a mid-season coaching change, axeing Hue Jackson who had led them to 1-15 and 0-16 records in his two full seasons, and interim head coach Gregg Williams has steered them to wins over two mid-ranking teams in Atlanta and Cincinnati after an understandable defeat to Kansas City in his first game.

Cleveland must beware the revenge factor, having used it to their advantage last week - Jackson has since joined the Bengals as assistant to Marvin Lewis, and his former players were clearly pumped up to prove it wasn't them who had been holding the franchise back.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is the man on a mission this week, keen to prove the Browns made a mistake in the 2017 draft, when they not only chose not to take him with the first pick, but also traded away the 12th selection to enable the Texans to secure his services.

The flip side of that is that Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett, who was their number one choice, will be keen to get after Watson to show he was worth it and a full-throttle contest is anticipated.

The Browns have a 4-6-1 record but that is already more success than they managed in the previous three years, when they went a combined 4-44-0.

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Nick Chubb have brought their offence to life and that pair, along with cornerback Denzel Ward, have won eight of the 12 NFL rookie of the week awards this season.

Talk of a playoff run looks overly optimistic but the Browns' future looks brighter now than it has for years.

This is a stiff examination of their credentials and most of their wins have come against much weaker defensive teams than the Texans.

But the handicap line is big enough that the Browns can be taken to at least make a game of it.

Recommendation
Cleveland +5.5
1pt 10-11 Hills

The lowdown
Venue NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Surface Artificial
Weather Clear, 17C (retractable roof likely to be open)
Vegas handicap Cleveland +5.5
Vegas points line 47.5

Team news
Cleveland
Offensive lineman Austin Corbett (foot) is the Browns' only likely absentee. Safety Damarious Randall (hamstring) and centre JC Tretter (ankle) are rated questionable. Linebacker Jamie Collins (shoulder) and tight ends Seth DeValve (calf) and David Njoku (knee) are set to play.

Houston
Wide receiver Keke Coutee (hamstring) and defensive end JJ Watt (knee) are questionable. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (foot), cornerbacks Kareem Jackson (foot) and Johnathan Joseph (ankle) and guard Senio Kelemete (ankle) should be fit.

Key stat
Cleveland had lost their previous 25 road games before winning at Cincinnati last week.

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