3 Takeaways from Browns' Week 13 Win vs. Texans
The Cleveland Browns are off to a 1-0 start in the Deshaun Watson era. However, that win can mostly be credited to the play of their defense and special teams, rather than their new franchise quarterback.
On Sunday, the Browns pulled away for a 27-14 victory over the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Cleveland scored a pair of defensive touchdowns and Donovan Peoples-Jones had a punt return TD, while Cade York booted a pair of fourth-quarter field goals.
The Texans kept the game close for much of the afternoon. But the Browns scored 13 straight points in the fourth, with a 42-yard field goal by York pushing their lead to 27-8 with 4 minutes and 3 seconds to go.
Here are three takeaways from Cleveland's Week 13 win.
Watson Is Clearly Going to Be a Bit Rusty for a while
Watson hadn't played in a game since Week 17 of the 2020 season, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was a bit rusty on Sunday. And fittingly, his Browns debut came against his former team in the stadium where he played his home games for his first four NFL seasons.
Although Watson completed 12 of his 22 pass attempts, he threw for only 131 yards. The 27-year-old also threw an interception late in the first quarter, getting picked off by Texans safety Jalen Pitre on a 1st-and-10 at Houston's 11-yard line.
"It’s not going to be perfect, especially playing December football and it’s Week 1 for me,” Watson said, per Kristie Rieken of the Associated Press. “It was fun, though. It was awesome to be out there with my teammates."
Once Watson gets more game reps, he should provide a boost to Cleveland's offense down the stretch. But it may take a bit longer before he plays at the Pro Bowl level he showcased during his time in Houston.
The Defense Thrived in Favorable Matchup
It didn't matter if the Browns' offense was a bit sluggish on Sunday. Their defense more than made up for it, feasting against a Texans offense that has struggled for much of the season. Cleveland was expected to win this matchup, and it did so in a big way.
Denzel Ward had a 4-yard fumble return touchdown early in the third quarter, then Tony Fields II notched a 16-yard interception return TD in the fourth. The Browns forced four turnovers (Fields also had a fumble recovery and John Johnson III added an interception) and allowed only 283 total yards.
The Browns' defense dominated from the start, as Johnson intercepted Texans quarterback Kyle Allen on the game's first play from scrimmage. That set for the tone for the day, and Houston didn't get into the end zone until there was only 1:57 to go and the game was already out of reach.
Cleveland's defense has had some struggles this year, particularly against the run. But this could be a confidence-boosting performance for the unit that leads to some improved play at critical moments down the stretch.
Peoples-Jones Carried Big-Play Ability over to Special Teams
During his first three NFL seasons, Donovan Peoples-Jones has flashed his big-play potential for the Browns, mostly on offense. But on Sunday, the 23-year-old made his biggest impact on special teams with one of the best plays of his brief career.
Peoples-Jones provided Cleveland with a needed spark in the second quarter, returning a punt 76 yards for a touchdown to put the Browns ahead 7-5 with 3:41 until halftime. It was Peoples-Jones' first career punt return TD, and it was his second touchdown of the season.
Not only that, but Peoples-Jones was only the second player to return a punt for a score in the NFL this year. And he became the first Cleveland player to do so since Travis Benjamin in Week 2 of the 2015 season.
After returning only five punts through the first 11 weeks of this season, Peoples-Jones has returned eight over the past two weeks. It's easy to see why the Browns are giving him more opportunities, as he's providing a boost to their return game. So it wouldn't be surprising to see him continue to get chances to make a big play late in the regular season.