Stroud’s 16 Touchdown Passes Test Cleveland’s Two-Game Slide

Cleveland enters Sunday at 5-4 and eighth in the standings, while Houston is 3-5 and 11th; the Texans nevertheless rank 15th in the power index, three spots ahead of the Browns at 18th. Cleveland has lost two straight and is 2-3 in its last five, while Houston is 3-2 over that span after a 44-22 win over the Chargers. C.J. Stroud has thrown 16 touchdown passes with just 2 interceptions and averages 282.3 passing yards per game, facing a Browns defense allowing 220.2 passing yards per game. Cleveland’s best counter is Quinshon Judkins, who has 385 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while protecting the ball is crucial: the Browns have 11 giveaways, compared with Houston’s 4, and the Texans hold a +4 turnover differential to Cleveland’s +1.