The Cleveland Browns came to NRG Stadium for a Christmas Eve game and lassoed the horns of the Texans, beating them 36-22 and helping the Browns creep closer to securing an NFL playoff berth.
It was a Christmas party inside the stadium. Looking up from field level, both teams’ fans were dressed in holiday costumes that included full Santa and Mrs.
Claus outfits, reindeer gear, Christmas ornaments and Grinch costumes that made for some fun photographs.
With a touchdown on the Browns’ opening drive, the Texans’ Christmas spirit fell silent. With some excitement in the second quarter for the Texans on a 92-yard kick off return by Dameon Pierce, the mood soon turned again. The fans must have felt like they were on the naughty list because they didn’t cheer again until a Texan TD with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter.
Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper are the gifts that keep on giving this holiday season.
Cooper shattered Josh Gordon’s single-game record of 261 yards with 265 and became the first Browns receiver to notch back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons.
He believes something special is brewing on this resilient Browns team. Flacco completed 27 of 42 passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Browns got another stellar performance from their defense, with two takeaways and three sacks of Case Keenum (11 completions, 62 yards, 31.6 quarterback rating), including two by Za’Darius Smith.
Myles Garrett was shut out of sacks for the fifth straight game and remains stuck at 13. But in a resounding victory like this, it didn’t matter.
The Browns can clinch a playoff spot with a victory Thursday night over the 6-9 Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium, where the Browns are 7-1 this season.
Below are my favorite photos from the win over the Texans.
