5 bold predictions for Browns against Texans
By John Buhler
The Cleveland Browns would love nothing more than to hand the Houston Texans a big loss.
After nearly beating the juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead, the Cleveland Browns have a terrific opportunity to bounce back vs. the Houston Texans in Week 2 for their home opener.
Cleveland largely outplayed Kansas City on the road in Week 1, but the Browns fell apart in the second half and Patrick Mahomes took over. While this happens to most teams that play the Chiefs, Cleveland is one of only a handful who can realistically challenge them in the AFC. As for the Texans, possibly the worst team in football leads the AFC South by game after the first week.
Here are five bold predictions on the Browns’ side of things when they take on the Texans Sunday.
Cleveland Browns: 5 bold predictions vs. the Houston Texans in Week 2
5. Jarvis Landry will lead the team in receiving with well over 100 yards
For the better part of his career, Jarvis Landry has been one of the best possession receivers in football. Though he has never been much of a yards-after-the-catch guy in the NFL, he can be counted on to make big plays in the middle of the field for his offense to keep the sticks moving. Landry is coming off a game where he had five receptions for 71 yards, but no touchdown grabs.
The only receiving threat on the Browns roster to have more yards than him was tight end David Njoku. Though Landry is not the home-run threat of other receivers on Cleveland, he is one of those receivers who will rack up nine or 10 yards with every pass thrown his way. It may be a high-volume play, but Landry is the likeliest receiver to lead the Browns in yardage on Sunday.
Dink-and-dunk may not put the Texans out of their misery in Week 2, but whether it be death by a thousand paper cuts or a few haymakers to the dome, a win is a win, and that is what the Browns are going to do to Houston in their home opener. Landry may or may not score his first touchdown of the year, but we should expect him to be on the receiving end of several Baker Mayfield passes.
Look for Landry to have around 10 catches for something well above 100 yards through the air.