The Houston Texans take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, and the opportunity is there for the Texans to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
Getting a win against a team that earned a franchise-altering playoff win at the Pittsburgh Steelers last year would also give Houston plenty of credibility and momentum, especially for a club most prognosticators had at the bottom of their power rankings to start the season.
For the Texans, the game will be somewhat of a reunion for quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who spent the 2018 season starting three games for Cleveland before then-No. 1 overall rookie Baker Mayfield took over. The former Oklahoma Sooner has never looked back after taking over for Taylor in Week 3 against the New York Jets on a Thursday night.
Cleveland’s pass rush also presents problems with former Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney and 2017 No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett.
Coach David Culley acknowledges that, albeit they lost 33-29 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, the Browns still present a formidable test for the 1-0 Texans.
“It’s a big challenge,” said Culley. “We kind talk about during the course of the year that you are going to play teams that you consider playoff caliber teams, guys that have been there, teams that are expected to be there. And we feel like we are playing one of those teams this week.”
To get ready for the first week of the regular season, here is important game day information so you can catch the game. Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @CotyDavis_24, @TexansDoc)
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns — Sunday, Sept. 19, 12:00 p.m. CT
TV channel: KHOU-TV (Greg Gumbel & Adam Archuleta)
Live stream: FuboTV
Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Forecast: Sunny, 77 degrees, 7 mph wind
Referee: Brad Rogers
Odds: Browns -12.5
