Cleveland Browns vs Houston Texans Box Score on Oct 15, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 15, 2017

HOUSTON -- Deshaun Watson continued his breakout rookie season and the Houston Texans forced three turnovers in their 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

Watson passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns, his ledger marred only by a 56-yard interception return for a score by Browns cornerback Jason McCourty in the fourth quarter. With 15 touchdowns, Watson has the most by a rookie through six games since the merger.

The Texans (3-3) harassed Browns quarterback Keven Hogan into a miserable debut as a starter. Hogan tossed three interceptions, with Texans veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph recording a pair of picks. Joseph returned his first interception 82 yards for a touchdown with 11:08 remaining in the first half to extend the Texans' lead to 16-3. Hogan passed for 140 yards.

Playing their first game since losing defensive end J.J. Watt (leg) and linebacker Whitney Mercilus (pectoral) to season-ending injuries, the Texans limited Cleveland (0-6) to 247 yards.

In addition to their three interceptions, the Texans sacked Hogan four times. The Browns benched struggling rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer last week seeking a spark from Hogan.

Watson, who finished 17 of 29, completed scoring passes of 39 yards to Will Fuller with 41 seconds left in the first quarter, 1 yard to Braxton Miller at the 3:04 mark of the second, and 3 yards to DeAndre Hopkins with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter. Watson is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw three-plus touchdowns in three consecutive games.

NOTES: With two first-half interceptions, Texans CB Johnathan Joseph became the franchise career leader with 14. Dunta Robinson (2004-09) and Kareem Jackson were tied atop the list with 13. ... Browns rookie DE Myles Garrett sacked Texans QB Deshaun Watson with just under two minutes remaining in the first half, his third sack in only six quarters of play. Garrett recorded two sacks in his NFL debut last weekend against the New York Jets. ... While recording his second interception of the season, a total that leads all rookie linebackers, Texans LB Dylan Cole suffered a hamstring injury and did not return. ... Browns WR Kenny Britt (knee/groin) missed his second consecutive game due to injury. Britt recorded eight receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown during the opening four games of the season.