3 Takeaways from Browns' Week 16 Win vs. Texans
The Cleveland Browns won their 10th game of the 2023 season on Sunday and did it in convincing fashion.
A couple of late touchdowns and a successful onside kick allowed the Houston Texans to make the final score respectable, but the Browns defense, another strong game by Joe Flacco (368 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) and a record-setting day from Amari Cooper gave Cleveland a 36-22 victory.
It was easily the Browns' best road performance of the season thus far, and it puts them in prime position to make the postseason. Cleveland will have to wait another week to clinch, but at 10-5, it has the inside track in the race for the AFC's top wild-card spot.
Here are our biggest takeaways from the Browns' Week 16 win over the Texans.
Browns D Finally Travels
The Browns defense has been a team strength at home all season. However, Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith, Denzel Ward and Co. haven't been as effective on the road.
Cleveland came into Week 16 with a 2-4 road record and had surrendered just over 30 points per game away from Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns' two road wins came by a combined three points.
We hadn't seen the Browns defense dominate on the road until Sunday. Cleveland recorded three sacks, two takeaways and held the Texans to 178 passing yards and 250 total yards—most of that coming from third-string QB Davis Mills in garbage time. Houston's offense was shut out through three quarters, with seven of its 22 points coming on special teams.
Yes, the Texans were playing with backup quarterback Case Keenum instead of rookie star C.J. Stroud. That can't be ignored. However, the Browns have to be thrilled with seeing their defense play with the same intensity and efficiency they've had at home.
The big question is whether the defense can replicate its performance moving forward. Cleveland is still alive in the AFC North race, but barring a surprise, the Browns are probably going to be a wild-card team if they make the postseason. They have to be ready to keep winning on the road.
Hopkins' Injury Looms Large
It seems like it wouldn't be a 20203 Browns game without an injury to discuss. On Sunday, kicker Dustin Hopkins exited with a hamstring injury after chasing Dameon Pierce on Pierce's 98-yard touchdown return.
Hopkins was ruled out by the second half.
"Evan Washburn reports on CBS not only is Dustin Hopkins out, but Browns do not have an emergency placekicker," Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
While Hopkins' injury might not be as noteworthy as those of Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson, it's huge at this point in the season. Hopkins has been as reliable as any specialist in football, and he's delivered multiple victories this season with late kicks.
Having a dependable kicker is an asset for any team hoping to go deep into the postseason, and Cleveland doesn't have a viable Plan B at the position. With no emergency kicker, the Browns left points on the board against Houston.
Ideally, the injury won't keep Hopkins out long-term. Regardless, the Browns will likely look to audition specialists this week.
Amari Cooper Trade Continues to Look Like a Steal
While watching Cooper break free for a 75-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the second quarter, fans may have taken a second to remember last offseason's trade to acquire him.
In March of 2022, Cleveland traded a mere fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-rounders to pry Cooper away from the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas was interested in getting out of Cooper's five-year, $100 million deal—a contract that now looks reasonable amid the receiver contract landscape—so the Browns got a bargain.
How big of a bargain? On Sunday, Cooper became the first player in Browns history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
More importantly, as it pertains to Cleveland's playoff push, Cooper has formed a strong connection with Flacco to energize the downfield passing attack. The duo was far from done with that long score.
Cooper set a new franchise receiving record with 265 yards to go with two touchdowns on 11 receptions.
That's huge because it opens up options for an offense that largely relied on underneath throws before Flacco's arrival. The downfield passing attack certainly fueled Cleveland's victory on Sunday.
*Contract information via Spotrac.