Will the Browns get only their second win since the 2015 season?
According to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook (via ESPN), yes they will. The Browns opened as 2.5-point favorites to defeat the Colts this Sunday, marking the first time since 2015 they are favored to win.
The Colts have struggled mightily without quarterback Andrew Luck, who is still rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. Backups Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett have been abysmal, throwing a combined three interceptions with no touchdowns.
The Browns were 2-point favorites over the 49ers in Week 14 two seasons ago, and they won, 24-10. So maybe history can repeat itself for Cleveland, which won only once last season.
As crushing as the loss has to be for the Texans, there are positives to take away from what was by far their best performance of the season. Their pass rush finally woke up; after going sackless through the first two games of the season, their big three of Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus and J.J. Watt combined for three sacks, seven tackles for loss and six quarterback knockdowns. It helped that the Patriots were down starting right tackle Marcus Cannon and didn’t appear to have a full-strength Nate Solder all game on the left side.
Watson also appears to have sprung the Houston offense to life, although the fact that O’Brien opted to start Tom Savage over Watson after the preseason has to make Texans fans wonder what exactly the former Patriots offensive coordinator was watching. Watson’s ability as a runner has forced opposing linebackers to hesitate and created running lanes for what has been a moribund Houston running game under Miller, with D’Onta Foreman helping shoulder some of the load as both a runner and checkdown receiver.