3 critical matchups the Houston Texans face vs. the Cleveland Browns

The Houston Texans defensive line vs Cleveland’s rushing attack

While it may not be player vs player the ability for the Texans to slow down, the Browns running game will decide if the Houston Texans can compete against Cleveland on Sunday.

The Browns possess arguably one of the best one-two punches in all of football with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt at running back. Both players are physically dominant runners of the football while possessing break-away speed in the open field. Keeping the time of possession while Houston’s offense sits can be a lethal factor in a game between teams like these.

It is absolutely vital in this game that the Houston Texans do everything they can to keep the Browns behind the sticks to force Baker Mayfield to beat them. The Texans defensive line looks vastly improved from a year ago with a plethora of players in Lovie Smith’s 4-3 defense where they consistently rotate fresh body’s in at the Defensive line.

Fresh bodies will be needed against Cleveland’s two-headed monster. On the other hand, if the Texans can slow them (Chubb and Hunt) down they might just shock the world on Sunday afternoon. A Chubb fumble ended up starting the Chiefs comeback last week. Houston has to force another one this week.