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Deshaun Watson isn't buying into the hype surrounding his matchup with the Houston Texans, the team that traded him to the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster 2022 deal. Watson insists that facing his former team is no longer a big deal, stating, "That stuff is in the past."
However, until Watson lines up under center for another NFL franchise, every game against the Texans will carry extra weight and remain a major storyline due to the seismic trade that reshaped both organizations. Watson, who missed last week's overtime loss to the Saints with a concussion, will square off against Houston (3-5) on Sunday for just the second time since the trade. The matchup could have significant implications for both teams' seasons.
Houston drafted Watson in 2017, and he spent four years with the franchise before a contentious split over money led to the trade. Cleveland surrendered three first-round picks and signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract—a deal widely criticized as one of the worst in NFL history given his injuries and inconsistent play. But in the final year of that contract, Watson has revitalized his career, guiding the Browns to five comeback victories and putting them in playoff contention.
Watson prefers not to dwell on his time in Texas or the upcoming reunion, which is why he downplayed the game's significance. "It's a big opportunity for us," he said. "Get back on the winning track, especially in front of our home fans. That's the ultimate focus. All the outside things, going against my former team, four or five years ago, yeah, it was a big deal. But now, both sides have moved on, and we're just both trying to find ways to win and continue to put ourselves in position for later on down the road."
The Texans, who have suffered four close losses, are coming off a 44-22 rout of the Chargers. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw five touchdown passes, and Houston's defense, led by relentless edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., tied a franchise record with eight sacks of Justin Herbert.
Protecting Watson has been a major issue for the Browns, who have allowed a league-high 38 sacks. Watson is relying on his mobility and quick release to counter Houston's pass rush. "It's going to be a big challenge for us," Anderson said. "We have to do a good job of closing the gate on him. All four guys have to rush together. He's a dynamic quarterback. Of course, watching him when he was at Clemson, he can move around in the pocket. He can step up to get out, step back and come back inside the pocket and get out. It's going to be all guys rushing together. No weak links."
Key Analysis
The Browns' offensive line faces a daunting task against a Texans pass rush that features Anderson, who leads the NFL with 9 1/2 sacks, and Danielle Hunter, who has 4. The duo has combined for a league-leading 63 1/2 sacks since 2024. Anderson wrecks game plans and disrupts quarterbacks, and Cleveland's O-line has struggled all season, allowing eight sacks last week against the Saints. The Browns will need to find a way to neutralize Houston's dynamic edge rushers to give Watson time to operate.
Stroud is off to the best start of his career, leading the AFC in touchdown-to-interception ratio (8.0), passer rating on third down (129.6), and tied for first in completions of at least 20 yards (32). He ranks second in passing yards per game (281.4) and third in the conference in overall passer rating (104.8). The Browns' defense, which has not allowed a 300-yard passer in 54 consecutive games—the longest active streak in the league—will be tested by Stroud's arm and Houston's explosive offense.
Browns rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion Jr. have emerged as big-play threats. Boston leads all rookies in receiving yards (507) and touchdowns (3) and has four catches over 40 yards. Concepcion, who scored his first NFL touchdown last week, is tied for the rookie lead in receptions (37) and ranks second to Boston in yards (437). The duo is the first rookie pair since 2015 to each record at least 85 yards in the same game.
Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after connecting on all 11 field-goal attempts, including five from beyond 50 yards. His 56-yarder against the Chargers tied him with Sebastian Janikowski for the third-most field goals from at least 50 yards (58) in NFL history.
The Browns begin a stretch of four consecutive home games in a five-week period, including their upcoming bye. Cleveland is 3-0 at Huntington Bank Field and one of just six teams unbeaten at home in 2026. The Browns are 4-1 when hosting the Texans.
Need to know: Houston (3-5) at Cleveland (5-4), Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox. Latest odds: Texans by 4 1/2. Against the spread: Texans 3-5, Browns 6-3. Last week: Texans beat Chargers 44-22; Browns lost to Saints 23-22 in overtime. Last meeting: Browns beat the Texans 36-22 on Dec. 24, 2023, in Houston. Series record: Texans lead 8-7.
Matchup to watch: Texans DEs Anderson and Danielle Hunter vs. Browns tackles. Anderson leads the NFL with 9 1/2 sacks, Hunter has 4, and the duo has combined for a league-leading 63 1/2 sacks since 2024. Anderson disrupts game plans and quarterbacks, and Cleveland's offensive line has had issues all season, allowing eight sacks a week ago against the Saints.
Originally reported by newsandsentinel.