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Browns turn page on regular season to playoff matchup with Texans, C.J. Stroud | Takeaways
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- Browns turn page on regular season to playoff matchup with Texans, C.J. Stroud | Takeaways
CINCINNATI — There were not going to be any big-picture takeaways to emerge from the Browns' 31-14 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's regular-season finale. The way the Browns played the game in terms of personnel dictated that fact.
The Browns' four-game win streak was snapped with the loss. The only four-game win streak they're looking for can start with the AFC Wild Card game at the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
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"I think when you look at these games, what's important is doing what's best for your football team, so we knew what this game was," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We knew it was a great opportunity for young guys to get some reps, and I thought in that regard, I think that they did a nice job."
Two years ago, in a reversal of roles, the Bengals rested a bunch of starters and lost at Cleveland in the regular-season finale. They came within 90 seconds or so of winning a Super Bowl.
That's what the Browns (11-6) would love to see happen as they embark on their third playoff journey since their 1999 rebirth. Now, having dispatched with the formalities of Sunday's regular-season finale, they can turn their full attention toward that next stage.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) is by sacked by Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91) and defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) in the second half Sunday in Cincinnati.
"I mean, it doesn't change regardless," defensive end Alex Wright , who had a sack Sunday, said. "I mean, we still want to go 1-0 every week. I mean, it just matters a lot more. Games matter in the regular season regardless, but this one, the 1-0s from now on has a bigger meaning to it. So we just got to keep working and limit mistakes and just play a game and still play our brand of football."
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The Browns' "brand of football" was good enough to win the last time they played the AFC South champion Texans (10-7). On Christmas Eve, they went to Houston and, behind Amari Cooper 's franchise-record 265 receiving yards, came away with a 36-22 win.
The fact that game was only a couple of weeks ago will be a benefit. The fact the Texans — and the Browns — have had injuries impact how they looked then or how they look now means that result can get wadded up and thrown away.
"It's always a little challenge," said defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson , one of the several Browns players who didn't play against Cincinnati. "You got to leave the last game in the last game because it's a whole new game, a whole new 60 minutes you have to be out there. You have to refocus and just don't get too relaxed because everybody's in the NFL for a reason."
So, instead of takeaways from a regular-season finale no one's likely to remember in two weeks, it's time to take an initial lookahead to the start of what the Browns hope is a four-game playoff journey.
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C.J. Stroud changes the Houston Texans in a major way
The Browns got the ultimate of breaks in facing the Texans two weeks ago when rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was still in concussion protocol. That left former Browns backup Case Keenum to come in, which left Houston in a world of hurt.
Keenum threw for 62 yards and two interceptions, as well as a 31.6 passer rating. Davis Mills did play significantly after the Browns took a 36-7 lead in the fourth quarter, finishing with 149 yards, two touchdowns and an 81.4 passer rating.
Stroud's last four games he's finished — taking out a Week 13 loss to the New York Jets in which he was concussed — the lowest he's posted in any of those statistical categories has been 213 yards, a touchdown and a 102.7 passer rating. He's thrown six touchdowns in that stretch with no interceptions.
Houston Texans center Juice Scruggs, right, celebrates with quarterback C.J. Stroud, left, after Stroud’s 1-yard touchdown to fullback Andrew Beck on Saturday in Indianapolis.
"I mean, CJ's a dynamic player," said Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, who made his return to the field Sunday after missing three games with a pectoral injury. "He's a really good quarterback, but we're going to definitely just watch the tape. We're going to treat him, we're going to respect them and just go and do our due diligence and do our homework on them."
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Stroud, an Ohio State product, is the favorite to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The No. 2 pick in last April's draft completed nearly 64% of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating.
The Browns will counter with a pass defense that came into Week 18 — when they essentially played no one of significance on defense — that was No. 1 in the league in passing yards allowed at 266.6. That defense starts with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett at defensive end, and extends to a secondary featuring highly regarded cornerbacks Denzel Ward , Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II.
"I don't care who we play," Emerson said after not playing Sunday. "I'm just excited. Good quarterback, young, took the team to the playoffs his first year. He's excellent, and I'm excited to play against great competition."
Dustin Hopkins ' hamstring hangs over Houston rematch
The Browns walked out of Houston feeling pretty good about things on Christmas Eve — except for the left hamstring injury kicker Dustin Hopkins suffered while trying to make a tackle on Dameon Pierce 's kickoff return for a touchdown.
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Hopkins has been sidelined since that injury, which isn't on his kicking leg. Still, it's something that hangs over the Browns because of what he had meant to them throughout the regular season.
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (31) runs past Cleveland Browns place kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) to score a touchdown on a kickoff return during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The kicker, who was acquired in an Aug. 28 trade from the Los Angeles Chargers , was 33 of 36 on field goals this season. That includes a team-record 8 of 8 from 50 yards or longer, as well as four go-ahead kicks in the final two minutes of wins.
Riley Patterson , who kicked in 13 games this season for the Detroit Lions , was signed to the Browns practice squad on Christmas. Patterson has kicked the last two games of the regular season, making his only field goal try from 33 yards in Week 17 while also making 6 of 7 PATs.
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If Hopkins can return for a second homecoming to his native Houston, that would be a major boost. If he can't, then it puts the Browns in a bind regarding what to do with the kicking position if Patterson gets his third, and final, elevation.
Injured edge rushers for both Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans
Both the Browns and the Texans have standout pass-rushing defensive ends. The Browns boast Garrett, Za'Darius Smith and Okoronkwo, while the Texans counter with Jonathan Greenard and rookie Will Anderson Jr.
Okoronkwo (pec), Greenard (ankle) and Anderson (ankle) have all missed multiple games with their injuries, while Garrett and Smith were among the Browns players who sat Sunday. Garrett was ruled out on Friday with a hamstring issue, although the Browns didn't sound too concerned long-term.
Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (18) hands off the ball to running back Devin Singletary (26) as Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) pressures Dec. 24 in Houston.
For the Browns, that's 14 sacks for Garrett, 5.5 for Smith and 4.5 for Okoronkwo. For the Texans, that's 12.5 sacks for Greenard — who hasn't played since leaving the previous game against the Browns on the first series — and another seven sacks for Anderson.
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Considering the amount both teams rely on their quarterbacks to key their offense, whether it's Joe Flacco for the Browns or Stroud for the Texans, the team that can rush the passer the best is going to have an edge. That makes the availability of those ends a critical point to watch going into the matchup.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns turn page on regular season to Texans, C.J. Stroud: Takeaways
