Browns Halftime Scribbles: Ugly weather, ugly game, Cleveland needs to find some passing attack– Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook as Browns lead the Texans 3-0 in a game delayed 35 minutes because of extreme wind and rain.

1. Browns kicker Cody Parkey saved the Browns first possession by connecting on a 41-yard field goal on this windy day. Parkey is 11-of-12 on field goals this season.

2. The Browns started Nick Chubb and immediately gave him the ball. He had four carries for 19 yards on the first drive. He was replaced by Kareem Hunt, who gained 20 yards in three carries. Both running backs looked fresh. Chubb was playing for the first time on four games after hurting his knee.

3. The Browns drove to the Houston 7-yard line on their first possession. Then a shotgun snap was botched. Baker Mayfield picked up the loose ball and then was called for intentional grounding. That set up the long field goal into the wind for Parkey.

4. Myles Garrett and Sheldon Richardson combined for a sack of Deshaun Watson on Houston’s first possession. Garrett now leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks this season. On that first possession, Garrett also made a great play tackling former Brown Duke Johnson for a 1-yard loss.

5. Garrett’s ankle was bothering him before the bye week, but he looks healthy now. On the next Houston possession, the Texans drove all the way to Cleveland 2-yard line. On fourth down, Watson tried to run for the TD but he was stuffed by Garrett.

6. Garrett had two tackles for a loss and sack in the first half. Sheldon Richardson had a hand in two sacks.

7. Houston failed to score in the first half. Their longest play was for 13 yards by Johnson, who had 25 yards on 9 carries. Watson was 10-of-13 passing for 71 yards.

8. Neither team could do much on offense. The 25 mph winds with gusts to 40 mph made it hard to throw. The Texans came into the day with the NFL’s worst defense vs. the run, but they stacked the line vs. the Browns and kept Cleveland’s ground game under control.

9. In the first half, Hunt carried to ball eight times for 36 yards, Chubb had only 23 yards on eight carries. Houston was daring the Browns to throw the ball, Mayfield was 8-of-14 passing for 89 yards.

10. In the second half, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is going to need to find a way to get Mayfield throwing some short passes to create some challenge for Houston’s defense. By keeping the game ugly and close, underdog Houston is giving itself a chance to win.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.