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Monday 5 deceMber 2022

Watson rusty in return but Browns get 27-14 win over Texans

By KRISTIE RIEKEN He evaded four tackles
AP Sports Writer at the start of the return
HOUSTON (AP) — Deshaun and then simply outran
Watson didn't play well everyone the rest of the
Sunday in his return after way for Cleveland's first
sitting out almost two years. punt return for a score
Cleveland's defense and since Travis Benjamin had
special teams ensured the a 78-yard return on Sept 20,
Browns got the win despite 2015.
his struggles. The Texans looked to have
Watson turned in a returned a fumble by
sloppy performance in Watson for a touchdown
his first game in 700 days, with less than a minute
but a punt return for a left in the first half. But
touchdown by Donovan officials ruled that it was an
Peoples-Jones and two incomplete pass.
defensive TDs were plenty The Browns extended the
enough to give the Browns lead to 14-5 when Ward
a 27-14 victory over the scooped up a fumble by
lowly Houston Texans. Allen and returned it 4
In the same stadium where yards for a touchdown with
he played his previous about 10 minutes left in the
game, a rusty Watson third quarter.
threw for 131 yards with an Cleveland became the
interception in his debut for 11th team since the merger
the Browns (5-7) against his to have three or more
former team in his return touchdowns combined on
after serving an 11-game defense and special teams
NFL suspension for sexual without a TD on offense and
misconduct allegations. the first since the Eagles
"It's not going to be did it in a 26-21 loss to San
perfect, especially playing Francisco on Sept. 28, 2014.
December football and it's Allen was intercepted
Week 1 for me," Watson Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) calls a play at the line during the first half of on the first play of the
said. an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, game when John Johnson
Dec. 4, 2022,
"It was fun, though. It was Associated Press grabbed a pass that was
awesome to be out there deflected by Teagan
with my teammates. The intercepted Kyle Allen and of the team and requested The Texans had a first down Quitoriano. The play was
defense played a heck of returned it 16 yards on the a trade. Then, two dozen at the 16, but a face mask first ruled an incomplete
a game. Special teams next play. It's the first time women accused him penalty followed by a false pass, but the Browns
return was big for us. That's in franchise history that of sexual harassment or start pushed them back 20 challenged it, and it was
what we needed at the the Browns had three non- assault during massage yards and they settled for a reversed.
time. It's a team sport." offensive touchdowns in a therapy sessions. 44-yard field goal four plays INJURIES
Plenty of fans attended the game. He remained on Houston's later to make it 3-0. Browns rookie WR David
game wearing Watson's "I think our defense played roster last year, but sat out Nick Chubb had 80 yards Bell injured his hand in the
No. 4 jersey from both the well throughout (but) their all season before being rushing for the Browns and first quarter. ... Schwartz
Texans (1-10-1) and the defense outplayed our traded to the Browns in Kareem Hunt added 56 left in the third quarter to
Browns, but there were also defense today," Houston March. yards. be evaluated for a head
detractors with loud boos coach Lovie Smith said. Watson agreed to the Watson was hit as he threw injury. ... MLB Sione Takitaki
raining down on him every Allen had a terrible day in lengthy suspension, a and was picked off in the injured his leg in the fourth
time he touched the ball. his second start since Davis $5 million fine and had end zone by rookie Jalen quarter. ... TE David Njoku
The Browns trailed 5-0 early, Mills was benched. to undergo professional Pitre with about 3½ minutes missed his third game in five
but a 76-yard punt return by He threw for 201 yards with counseling and therapy left in the first quarter. Pitre weeks with a knee injury.
Peoples-Jones put them on a fumble that was returned after an independent returned it 29 yards. ... Texans RB Troy Hairston
top in the second quarter for a touchdown and two arbitrator ruled that he "There's some good things injured his ribs in the second
and Denzel Ward's 4-yard interceptions, the second violated the league's that we can build on, but quarter. ... RB Rex Burkhead
fumble return for a score of which was returned for personal conduct policy. overall, we just got to make missed the game with a
pushed the lead to 14-5 a score, as Houston's skid Watson was 12 of 22 and more plays," Pitre said. concussion. ... WR Brandin
early in the third quarter. stretched seven games. finished with a 53.4 QB The Texans got down to Cooks sat out with a calf
"He's human," Cleveland "Offensively you can't win rating, which was the lowest the 1, but Allen threw an injury.
coach Kevin Stefanski said many games playing like of a career where he took incomplete pass on fourth- FIRST TIMER
of Watson. "Coming back that," Smith said. "I'm just the Texans to the playoffs in and-1 to give the Browns Houston Astros shortstop
here, first game in a while, disappointed in how we two of the four seasons he the ball back. Three plays Jeremy Peña, the World
his teammates had his played offensively." played for them. later Roy Lopez tackled Series MVP, attended
back." It was Watson's first start His first completion was on Chubb in the end zone to Sunday's game and was
Cleveland didn't score since Jan. 3, 2021, when his third throw on a short make it 5-0. on the sideline to hype up
on offense until a 43-yard he threw for 365 yards pass to Anthony Schwartz. Peoples-Jones put the fans before kickoff. He said
field goal made it 17-8 and three touchdowns for But Tavierre Thomas Browns on top when he it was a new experience for
with about 10 minutes Houston in a 41-38 loss to stripped the ball and returned a punt 76 yards for him.
remaining. The Browns Tennessee. Desmond King recovered it a touchdown to make it 7-5 "It's special," he said. "This is
added a second defensive Soon after that, he became to give Houston the ball on with about four minutes left my first football game ever,
score when Tony Fields unhappy with the direction the Cleveland 38. in the second. so I'm excited for that."q