Get every big moment as it happens in today's live blog as the first-place Browns look to go 7-3.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After 10 days of backslaps and praise, how do the Browns react to prosperity?
We'll find out today, as the Browns -- without Jordan Cameron for at least another week and Phil Taylor for the rest of the season -- take on a Houston team trying out the mysterious Ryan Mallett at QB for the first time. It should be a game in which a playoff contender punishes a team looking for a spark on the road. Are the Browns up to the task?
As always, we have every development from FirstEnergy Stadium at your fingertips thanks to the reporters and columnists of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. The national spotlight also is focused on the Browns, and we'll have their observations as well.
Just keep refreshing to get the latest.
2:57 p.m.: Mallett to Keshawn Martin for six yards on a pick play on the left side. On second-and-4, Mallett to Demaris Johnson for a first down at the 39. Texans going quickly, Alfred Blue for three over right guard. On second-and-7, Texans slow down. Blue up the middle for six, but Jabaal Sheard flagged for hands to the face -- added to the run and Texans have first down at the Browns 46.
Browns looking for something to change momentum. Blue for no gain over left guard. On second-and-10, Blue gets around Robertson and Gipson at the line of scrimmage and gains 14 at right end.
Grimes for four on first down. Grimes again up the middle for four. On third-and-2, Browns have three linemen and Billy Winn forces a Houston holding penalty on G Brandon Brooks. Browns accept penalty to get them out of field-goal range. On third-and-12, bubble screen to Demaris Johnson loses a yard.
Randy Bullock attempts 52-yard field goal. It's wide right. Browns take over on their own 42.
2:48 p.m.: Crowell not banished, but back in backfield. First-down carry good for nine yards on trap up the middle. On second-and-1, Crowell stumbles but reaches the 30 for the first down.
Hoyer tries a screen to Crowell but Jared Crick nearly picks it off. Incomplete. On second down, Browns try fleaflicker but Brian Cushing hits Hoyer in mid-delivery and his throw for an open Benjamin is five yards short. Hoyer goes deep again for Gabriel, who never gets inside Johnathan Joseph and the ball falls incomplete.
Lanning punt to Keshawn Martin caught at 25, returned three yards to the 28.
2:45 p.m.: Browns receive to start the second half. Marlon Moore takes the touchback.
2:43 p.m.: Big concern for Browns -- Texans are averaging 4.4 per carry. Hard to get the fans behind you when the defense is struggling to get off the field.
2:41 p.m.: Bud Shaw on the game's building ... uh ... narrative.
"This game is following the form established earlier this season. Bad teams self-destruct. The Browns take advantage and begin distancing themselves (even if only a little) late in the second half and with the first possession of...
"Oops. Check that. Didn't have a Isaiah Crowell fumble included in that narrative."
2:39 p.m.: Terry Pluto on a difficult first half for the Cleveland offense.
"Houston's pass rush is an issue for Hoyer. He was sacked twice. He fumbled (and recovered) and also had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage. Houston came into the game leading the NFL with 67 quarterback hits. Houston's pressure has bothered some of the Browns offensive linemen. Mitchell Schwartz was flagged for holding and then a false start on back-to-back plays."
Halftime: Texans 14, Browns 7
2:31 p.m.: Moore returns kickoff to the 27. Browns with 18 seconds take a knee and head to the locker room.
Texans 14, Browns 7, 0:23 left in second quarter
2:29 p.m.: How aggressive do the Texans get with Ryan Mallett?
Blue on delayed handoff for 11 -- Browns' run defense is mediocre again, at best.
At the Houston 43, Grimes gets three as Texans call timeout with 1:24 left.
Grimes up the middle for five. Houston willing to be conservative -- timeout at 1:06 -- but still moving the ball for a possible field goal.
On third-and-2, Mallett throws to Andre Johnson to the Browns' 39, but Browns' Desmond Bryant called for holding. Declined.
Houston nearly in field-goal range. Mallett on first down hits TE Garrett Graham for four yards -- Browns' Craig Robertson called for illegal contact and Texans accept penalty to the 34.
Do Browns have a big defensive play? Not yet, as Mallett hits Graham against Robertson at the Cleveland 20. Mallett again to Graham, who breaks a Gipson tackle at the 4 and lunges into the end zone.
Wretched turn of events for the Browns, who thought they were in scoring position before the Crowell fumble.
Browns 7, Texans 7, 2:00 left in second quarter
2:21 p.m.: Mallett to Demaris Johnson for seven. Blue over left tackle for two. On third-and-1, the 6-6 Mallett sneaks for a first down at the two-minute warning.
2:20 p.m.: Can Browns maintain momentum? Hoyer slips on a boot right, but the Texans are well blocked and he finds Jim Dray wide open for 30 yards run and catch.
Crowell loses a yard, and then Hoyer throws behind Hawkins at the 40. On third-and-11 at the Houston 44, Hoyer scrambles right (good blocking) and hits Gabriel at the 35, Gabriel zigs to a first down at the 30.
West on a zone stretch left gets seven on first down. On second-and-3, West gets two up the middle. On third-and-1, Crowell replaces West. Hoyer sneaks on third down and gets two yards to the 19 with the clock moving under 3:30 in the half.
Crowell fumbles on handoff (Brian Cushing on the punchout) up the middle, Watt recovering at the 23.
2:13 p.m.: Daniel Manning returns kickoff to the Texans 26.
Mallett hits Demaris Johnson in right slot for four. Blue gets his pads very, very slow and gets seven yards for a first down at the 38. Blue on first down for five up the middle. On second-and-5, Grimes gets three and Karlos Dansby has his left leg rolled up in the pile by Grimes and limps off.
On third-and-1, center Chris Myers snaps the ball over Mallett's head, recovered by Blue at the Houston 25.
Lechler's punt downed at the Browns' 27 -- Benjamin again rather timid in letting the ball bounce.
Browns 7, Texans 7, 8:58 left in second quarter
2:07 p.m.: Browns offense has been lurch mode so far.
Crowell gets three, but John Greco called for holding (Schwartz was flagged, too). Now on first-and-20, Hoyer throw for Austin tapped away at the 35 by CB Johnathan Joseph. On second-and-20, Watt intimidates Schwartz into a false start and Browns look a bit lost at the moment.
It's second-and-25, and Hoyer to Gabriel broken up by a big hit from Joseph. Gabriel slipped on his route. Tate on a give-up draw loses three and boos can be heard as the Texans are close to flipping the field.
Lanning is again roughed by J.J. Watt -- nothing happens on this field without Watt being involved. Browns first down at the 35.
Watt on the sideline, and Hoyer hits Gabriel for 23 -- that is NOT a coincidence. At the Houston 42, Crowell around right tackle for seven. On second-and-3, Crowell over left tackle for three and the first down.
Hoyer play action boot right, finds Hawkins crossing the field at the 15 and he gets a block from Miles Austin at the goal line for the 31-yard TD.
Thank you, J.J. Watt.
1:57 p.m.: Blue up the middle for four, cutting to backside of blocks. On second-and-6, Mallett in shotgun is a little behind Hopkins at the 25. On third-and-6, Grimes gets four on the handoff, stopped short of the sticks by S Jim Leonhard.
Pretty conservative handling of Mallett. Lechler's punt touched down at the Browns' 38.
1:53 p.m.: In I formation, West gets two over left tackle with Ray Agnew blocking. On second-and-8, Hoyer misses a double-covered Hawkins by five yards in the end zone. On third-and-8, Hoyer has pass knocked down by LB Mike Muhamed -- Texans zone blitzed five.
J.J. Watt flagged for a personal foul after running into Spencer Lanning's plant leg on the punt. First down at the Texans 32.
Another inside pitch/trap to Crowell gets two, with Jadeveon Clowney making the tackle. On second-and-8, Hoyer sacked by LB Akeem Dent for loss of seven. On third-and-15, Hoyer rolls right and misses Austin at the 10.
Browns just look a little confused in all aspects. Browns take deliberate delay of game, but Texans decline at the 37. Lanning's punt caught by Keshawn Martin at the 9 with 12:52 left.
Texans 7, Browns 0, end of first quarter
1:45 p.m.: Crowell gets nine yards on first down. Second-down play fake and Hoyer hits Travis Benjamin at the Texans 49 -- nice leaping catch -- as the quarter ends.
1:42 p.m.: Mallett to Andre Johnson for nine yards on first down. Browns' K'Waun Williams flagged for hands to face, 5-yard penalty declined. On second-and-1, Andre Johnson drops a stop route at the 38. On third-and-1, Blue toss sweep left for five yards on a zone blocking scheme very similar to Browns'
On first down Mallett to Andre Johnson gets 12 on easy slant inside against Joe Haden. Grimes gets a yard up the middle, Williams defending. On second-and-9, Blue waits for blocks and gets a first down at the 37. Again, Browns' 3-man defensive line getting no penetration.
On first down, Blue on draw gets just a yard as Haden and Sione Fua chase him down. On second-and-9, Mallett to Andre Johnson for eight as Haden sloughed at the snap and gave him easy yards. On third-and-1, Mallett looks deep for DeAndre Hopkins but Joe Haden leaps higher and intercepts in the end zone.
1:34 p.m.: Marlon Moore catches kickoff at the 5, returns to the 20.
The middle pitch/TE trap to Crowell is good for 35 yards to the Houston 45. Quick slant to Hawkins good for 13. Browns no-huddle seems to gain energy, but Hoyer's first-down pass to Hawkins is wide and incomplete. At the Houston 33, Browns call second timeout with 6:03 left in quarter with formation confusion.
On second-and-10, Hoyer motions Terrance West left, but hits TE Jim Dray up the middle for 12. West first-down carry good for three yards to the 14. On second-and-7, Hoyer rolls right to Hawkins for no gain.
On third-and-7, Tate in backfield, moving to slot left. J.J. Watt -- beating Mitchell Schwartz with no TE help -- swats the ball out of Hoyer's hand. Hoyer recovers at the 20 and is tackled by Watt.
Cundiff's 38-yard field goal is wide right.
Texans' ball at the 28.
Texans 7, Browns 0, 7:09 left in first quarter
1:25 p.m.: Second series time to unleash Mallett? Not on first down, as Blue gets a yard as Craig Robertson, Jabaal Sheard close in. On second-and-9, Mallett wide for Demaris Johnson, Chris Kirksey covering. On third-and-9, Mallett goes deep for DeAndre Hopkins, who uses his 6-1 frame to shield Buster Skrine for 41 yards to the Browns 47.
Blue for two yards on first down. On second-and-8, delay handoff to Blue good for six. On third-and-2, Browns call first timeout with 9:42 remaining.
After timeout, Blue powers up the middle for three and the first down. Browns only had three down linemen and got overmatched.
At the 37, Mallett audibles and gives to Blue for two. Texans playing up tempo and Mallett looks for Demaris Johnson but K'Waun Williams taps the ball away expertly. Great play. On third-and-8, Mallett throws a dart to Andre Johnson for a first down at the 19. Browns getting blocked well at the line of scrimmage.
At the 19, Blue gets just a yard on off-tackle right, Dansby tackling. Browns having problem with the Houston pace and Blue breaks free to the Browns 5. Tashaun Gipson flagged for facemask.
From the 2, Mallett to J.J. Watt split left for the touchdown against Kirksey. Play reviewed as Watt had left foot and knee down in bounds.
"It's the only John Madden (rule), one knee equals two feet," says Doug Dieken on Browns radio.
1:12 p.m.: Crowell is the starter at RB and gets a yard on first down. Tate was a pregame captain. Hoyer to Miles Austin for 12 yards to the 42 for a first down.
First J.J. Watt sighting is a submarine of Crowell sweep left for a loss of one. On second-and-11, Hoyer overthrows Taylor Gabriel at the Houston 48. On third-and-11, Texans send just four, but force an overthrow of Andrew Hawkins 20 yards downfield.
Spencer Lanning punt fair caught by Keshawn Martin at the Houston 11. Official timeout with 11:56 left in quarter.
1:08 p.m.: Alfred Blue, Arian Foster's backup, gets six yards up the middle on first down. Mallett finds Andre Johnson for 28 yards, but a quick Browns challenge is rewarded by video of the ball hitting the turf before Johnson secures it. No catch.
On third-and-4, Texans try Jonathan Grimes up the middle, but he is a yard short.
Travis Benjamin's fair catch of the Shane Lechler punt starts the Browns at their 29.
1:03 p.m.: Billy Cundiff's kickoff is a touchback and we're underway.
1:01 p.m.: Texans call tails, lose the coin toss. Browns will defer and start the game on defense. Hochuli got the original call wrong -- a little early humor.
12:56 p.m.: On the other hand, the NFL is sending its best-known referee -- Ed "Top Guns" Hochuli -- to today's game.
12:53 p.m.: It's the CBS triumverate of Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein and Steve Tasker in the booth today. Still not exactly a prime-time lineup.
12:47 p.m.: CBS on Browns-Texans. Tony Gonzalez likes Houston, but Boomer, Bart Scott and Bill Cowher are taking the Browns.
12:41 p.m.: Bunch of chatter about Isaiah Crowell starting today -- except there's no confirmation from the team, which lists Ben Tate on the depth chart at the stadium. Also, doesn't it seem unlikely that Mike Pettine wouldn't give his ex-Texan a chance to prove something today -- at least in the first series?
If that messes with your fantasy team, I feel your pain. Just the way it is around these Browns.
12:38 p.m.: Who are we to disagree with the wisdom of a former Brown?
12:32 p.m.: Today's inactives:
Texans: OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, ILB Max Bullough, RB Arian Foster, CB Kareem Jackson, WR DeVier Posey, QB Tom Savage.
Browns: CB Johnson Bademosi, TE Jordan Cameron, CB Pierre Desir, OT Vinston Painter, OLB Keith Pough, WR Rodney Smith, RB Glenn Winston
12:30 p.m.: What's this? It seems like Terry Pluto is beginning to feel confident about the home team.
"The Browns aren't 6-3 by accident. They earned the record by playing gritty, solid football. (Brian) Hoyer has stayed away from turnovers (and that will be a key today), along with making some big plays at the right time. In the last four games, the defense has allowed an average of 13 points.
"Earlier in the week, I picked the Browns to win, 20-17. I'll stand by it."
And what of Bud Shaw? He's expecting a motivated ex-Texan to produce today.
"The Texans won't have Arian Foster to make things easier for Mallett. The Browns will have the usual numbers at running back with Terrance West, former Foster backup Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell. I suspect Kyle Shanahan, who doesn't let his running backs get too comfortable, will tap into Tate's desire to show his old team that he's the leader of this triumvirate."
