Baker Mayfield threw for 397 yards, but only for one score and threw three interceptions in the first half to put the Texans far ahead and never threatened thereafter.
Jarvis Landry caught six passes for 103 yards as the offensive standout.
Cleveland drops to 4-7-1 with the loss and will host Carolina next Sunday.
Brownie Bits
1) The Houston Texans had won eight games in a row and this game was in their stadium.
The last thing that the Browns needed to do was to be talking about how "dangerous" their rookie quarterback was and how "cookie cutter" he is not.
The Browns seemed to think that snapping their road losing streak meant all was well on the road period.
Houston is too good of a team to do that against and the gap between the teams showed,
2) Baker Mayfield still has things to learn off the field with all this yakking from a then 4-6-1 team.
J.J. Watt commented after the game that "Mayfield probably wasn't feeling too dangerous in the first half, probably a little more so in the second".
By that time, however, the game was determined.
Sometimes, you are better off being a little quieter as the week goes on.
3) Still, Baker is a rookie and he'll learn some things as he develops.
His first half was bad with three interceptions and forcing passes as well, but in garbage time in the second half, he looked much better with his one touchdown and even though the Texans were in underneath mode, he was smart enough to take what was given.
Part of the development of a young quarterback.
4) DeShaun Watson has a chip on his shoulder when the Texans play the Browns.
Watson, you may remember, feels that the Browns told him that they would draft him if he was available and did not entering the 2017 draft.
For the second time in two games, Watson seemed especially motivated and even though his numbers don't look special on paper (1 TD 0 Int), Watson was poised and looks to be the real deal in Houston.
5) Even though the Texans moved the football consistently during the game, give the Browns defense credit in allowing just one defensive touchdown.
The Texans being able to move the ball led to five field goals, which allowed the game to be lopsided but could have ended far worse.
6) Antonio Callaway showed how he could impact a game and he showed that work still needs to be finished as he caught what would have been a 77-yard reception as he neared the goal line and then fumbled.
Callaway showed toughness in breaking an attempted tackle to run away from the defense, yet he clearly slows up a bit and didn't have the ball secured when a Texan neared him.
This happens more than it should in football, but hopefully, young players learn.
Callaway also caught a 71-yard touchdown that was called back due to a holding penalty on Greg Robinson.
7) The Browns defense was put in such a position because they could not stop the run.
Houston rushed for 187 yards, just under five yards a carry and 103 of those to Lamar Miller and the Browns were generally helpless against the Houston ground game.
Some of that might have been an in-game injury to Larry Ogunjobi, but that certainly wasn't all of the problems in stopping the run.
8) I wouldn't be too worried about Nick Chubb's 31-yard day.
With the Browns falling behind big early, the opportunities weren't there for him to ground and pound (nine carries) and Chubb did score a touchdown, so let's consider the circumstances for this game.
9) Denzel Ward left the game with a second-quarter concussion to further weaken an already battered secondary.
No word on Ward for next week of course, but it's an entirely different secondary without Ward.
10) One difference between these two teams and it's an indictment of past drafts is the speed aspect.
Houston was much faster from the top of the roster and especially matching their skill players against the Cleveland defense.
That will take another draft or two and I believe that will happen- take a look at the Chiefs that John Dorsey drafted to back that point up, but Cleveland is still at least another year away from catching up in depth at least.
11) The Browns are the team being talked about as being the possible team to claim Kareem Hunt after Hunt was released by Kansas City after a domestic violence video was released from last winter.
Cleveland is mentioned because John Dorsey drafted Hunt and Hunt is from the area.
Should the Browns decide to make that claim, they will be hit with backlash and rightfully so.
However, the Browns are in a unique position to give this a try, should they decide the player's talent is worth the public relations hit and here's why.
John Dorsey drafted him, Dorsey has a lot of goodwill built up in the area so far and should Dorsey decide to spend some of that on Hunt, that may reduce blowback in Northeast Ohio at least.
Hunt also is from the area and sometimes people are a little more forgiving with one of their own.
I'm not saying that the Browns would or even should claim Hunt, but they might be the one team that can make that the decision and have a little less heat for it.
12) Mike McCarthy was fired by the Packers after their loss at home to the lousy Cardinals and immediately became the talk of being the choice of the Browns.
Ryan (my Packer contact) has been complaining about McCarthy for years and frankly, I don't really want Baker Mayfield in a pure West Coast offense.
I'm not saying Mike McCarthy would be at the bottom of my list for Browns coaching candidates, but he sure isn't anywhere near the top.
13) I suppose the playoff talk is finished now and it should be.
Now the goal will be to win out and finish with a winning record, is that possible?
Yes. Likely? No.
I see the Browns going 2-2 at best.
I think next week's game against 6-6 Carolina at home to be a possible win, but not one to count on.
The inconsistent Panthers have played at both ends of the spectrum this season, but they have their own playoff situation to worry about.
Who knows which Panther team arrives, but the Browns have a chance.
I thought earlier this season that the Browns visit to Denver was a possible win, but the Broncos have caught their wind with three wins in a row (two of them over the Chargers and Steelers) and narrow losses to the Texans (by two) and the Chiefs (by seven) and are suddenly in contention.
All things considered, I'd say the Browns lose that one in Denver.
The Browns final home game is the one that I feel good about a victory in as they host the same Bengal team that they just dominated in Southern Ohio.
Considering that team lost their starting quarterback for the season, I think the Browns win that and end the home season right.
The wrapup in Baltimore may not go as well with the Ravens fighting for the playoffs and maybe John Harbaugh's job.
Combine that with the Ravens playing well and a revenge factor for their loss in Cleveland and
Baltimore should be favored, although the Browns could be in a position to ruin their season too.
Let's call it 5-10-1 or 6-9-1.
I'll try to make it back later with another post...
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