ThaShark316
#28





The last time the Cleveland Browns were in first place this late in a season, the franchise was still in version 1.0 with their contentious move out of the city two seasons away and their rebirth five years out.
Remaining at the top for another week would require them to spoil Ryan Mallett's first NFL start as the Houston Texans visit Cleveland on Sunday with hopes of finding new offensive footing.
The Browns (6-3) last led their division entering Week 11 in 1994, and they went on to a wild-card berth in their next-to-last season before moving to Baltimore.
The Texans (4-5) come out of their Week 10 bye turning to Mallett, who spent the first three years of his career behind Tom Brady before being traded for a draft pick in August. He hasn't thrown a pass this season while Ryan Fitzpatrick started the first nine games, but coach Bill O'Brien has confirmed this won't be a one-week trial period. Mallett will remain the starter for the rest of the season.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/texans-browns-preview-191659870--nfl.html
What I want to see:
- Let Mallett throw the rock early. Screens and short throws at first to find rhythm.
- Ball security. Youngsters will be all over the backfield in this one, so the importance of this is unrivaled.
- Takeaways and cashing in on them. Texans are one of the top teams in taking the ball away, but taking advantage of them is where games are won!
- Own the LOS. CLE does well most weeks running the football, so stopping them (they are kind of like us) is massive. Also, running all over them to set a tone; keeping their offense off the field.
Back to work! 2nd half of the season begins now, and it starts in the Dawg Pound. We have the horses to pull this off, so how about this: Get this W, move to 5-5, and make it at least interesting when it comes to that wild card race? Sound good? Good. Let's go to C-Town, and break up this Browns streak! LET'S MUTHA****IN' GO, TEXANS!!