The Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans will play on Saturday at NRG Stadium. This NFL Super Wild Card Weekend matchup kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The Browns are 2.5-point spread favorites and the game total is 44.5 points.
Cleveland (11-6 SU, 11-6 ATS, and 10-6-1 O/U) was 3-5 straight-up and against the spread on the road this season.
Houston (10-7 SU, 9-8 ATS, and 6-11 O/U) was 6-3 straight-up and 4-5 against the spread at home.
The Browns defeated the Texans 36-22 in Houston on Dec. 24. WR Amari Cooper set a Cleveland franchise record with 265 receiving yards in the win. He also had two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Houston managed only 250 total yards, as QB Case Keenum (11-for-17 for 62 yards and two INTs) started in place of C.J. Stroud. He was replaced by Davis Mills (15-for-32 for 149 yards and two scores) in the third quarter. The Browns led 22-7 at halftime and never looked back.
Winners of four of its last five, Cleveland enters Wild Card weekend with plenty of expectations. Its only loss came in the final week of the regular season with its starters resting for the postseason, so it will feel untouchable on Saturday. QB Joe Flacco has lit a fire under the seats of Dawg Pound faithful, inspiring confidence in a team many wrote off when Deshaun Watson was injured.
The Browns have an exciting team capable of making a run this year. They won't make it to Super Bowl Sunday, but they're capable of upsetting a team or two. Cleveland's winning formula is two parts Flacco and five parts defense. It will rush the passer (49 sacks and 2nd in pass rush win rate), work the ball downfield through the air (323.2 passing yards per game with Flacco), and lock down its opponents' passing game (1st in passing yards allowed).
The Browns sp ort a lengthy injury list heading into Saturday's contest, with several notable faces sitting out practice earlier in the week. Among the notable injured players are K Dustin Hopkins, who is doubtful to play with a hamstring injury, WR Amari Cooper (probable), Flacco (probable), and DE Myles Garrett, who is questionable with shoulder and hamstring injuries. That said, it appears most of the troops will be prepared for war this weekend.