3 Bold Predictions For Browns Versus Texans

Sunday, the Browns (5-3) will be home to take on Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans (1-6).

The Houston Texans may have some momentum, but the Cleveland Browns are the more talented team.

Here are 3 bold predictions for the game.
 

1. JJ Watt Won’t Record A Sack

The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is going to be in the Hall of Fame, but this Sunday he is going to look like a regular player.

The stats show that Watt is going to have an average year by his standards.

Through a 2-6 start, the Texans linebacker has just 4.0 sacks on the year.

Two of those sacks came against the Baltimore Ravens on September 20th.

Since then, Watt has just one sack against the Tennessee Titans and then last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was No. 100 in his career.

JJ Watt gets #NFL career sack 100!

He slaps down the OL's low-setting hands, clubs/rips to clear, runs the hoop & tomahawk chops the QB's arm for the strip/sack!

If the blocker's hands are low, keep 'em low (chop/slap). If their high, keep 'em high (lift/rip) #passrush #texans pic.twitter.com/57dM1GFWuK

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) November 9, 2020

The video is proof that Watt can still get to the quarterback.

However, even though the Browns offensive line may not be the league’s premier line, it’s still pretty solid.

The 31-year old is having a down year and this is going to be a game that adds on to that.
 

2. Browns Will Score Over 30 Points

This may not be a “bold” prediction, but it is for the Browns.

The Texans defense has allowed over 30 points in five of their eight games this season.

The Browns have scored over 30 points five of their eight games this season, but are coming off a 16-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders before the team entered the bye.

All signs point that the Browns will be able to get back to scoring left and right, especially with running back Nick Chubb scheduled to return for Week 10.

We have designated RB Nick Chubb for return from injured reserve

Details » https://t.co/aUGBe9FyVL pic.twitter.com/2zKUCipMHs

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 9, 2020

The Texans have the league’s worst rushing defense, allowing 159.5 rushing yards per game.

That goes with 30.3 points per game too.

Bet the over on this one.
 

3. Denzel Ward Will Get A Pick

Since 2018, Ward has been one of the best at creating turnovers compared to some of the elite corners in the game.

Fun with stats since start of 2018:

Denzel Ward
INT-6
CMP%-52.8
QBR-77.6

Marlon Humphrey
INT-6
CMP%-56.2
QBR-70.2

Tre’Davious White
INT-8
CMP%-54.9
QBR-78.6#Browns #TheWarden

— THEtalkinghead (@etalkinghead) October 30, 2020

The Texans have Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks to guard and Ward has the potential to lock both of those receivers down.

Ward only has one interception this season, coming against the Dallas Cowboys on October 4th.

If the Browns can run up the score in the first half, that is going to force Deshaun Watson to start airing out the ball.

Granted, despite losing DeAndre Hopkins via trade, Watson has a touchdown/interception ratio of 17 to 5.

Watson is due for a few turnovers as he has gone three consecutive weeks without throwing an interception (eight touchdown passes to zero interceptions).

Throw the ball in Ward’s direction and it could be a juicy stat line for the 23-year-old.