Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt push Browns past Texans in wild weather

CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb stepped out of bounds and on the Texans’ necks.

With a heady play in the game’s closing moments, Chubb made sure the Cleveland Browns put away Houston on a day where both teams equally fought the elements and each other.

Chubb returned from a stint on injured reserve and scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter — topping 100 yards rushing along with teammate Kareem Hunt — and the Browns pushed through rough weather for a 10-7 win on Sunday.

But Chubb’s biggest contribution came on Cleveland’s final drive when he reeled off a 59-yard run with 1:07 left and smartly ran out of bounds at the 1-yard line instead of scoring so the Texans, who were out of timeouts, wouldn’t get the ball back.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had delivered the code — "no mas" — to Cleveland’s huddle in case any player was about to score. It was no surprise that Chubb, who doesn’t like to talk about himself, followed instructions perfectly.

"He said, `Yes sir,’ ripped down the sideline there and just did his job," Stefanski said. "We are looking for smart, tough dudes, and Nick Chubb is that. I would not have been mad at him (for scoring), but knowing Nick, when you tell him to do something, he is going to do it."

Chubb shrugged off his effort.

"Luckily the run was long because I had to think about it in the last 10 yards," he said. "I should have just slid to keep the clock running or taken a knee, but it was a split-second decision."

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said Chubb’s play personifies the 24-year-old.

"It’s one of a kind to be that team first," he said.

Cleveland had its’ 1-2 backfield punch together again as Chubb, who was out six weeks with a sprained right knee, finished with 126 yards on 19 carries. Hunt ran for 104 yards, including 37 — and three first downs — on Cleveland’s final drive as the Browns (6-3) ate up the clock.

Chubb and Hunt are the first Browns teammates to rush for 100 yards each in the same game since Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly and Ernie Green did it in 1966.

With the Browns up 3-0 on a day where passing was almost impossible, Chubb, playing for the first time since Oct. 4, took a handoff on the right, cut left and ran past Texans defensive end J.J. Watt as Cleveland finally found the end zone.

Deshaun Watson’s 16-yard TD pass to Pharaoh Brown pulled the Texans (2-7) within three, but Hunt pounded away after the Browns were backed up after a muffed kickoff. Cleveland held the ball for the final 4:54 against the NFL’s worst rushing defence.

"Frustrating," Watt said. "Not where we wanted it to end up."

Before Watson’s scoring pass, the Texans couldn’t muster much offence as swirling winds blew his throws off course and affected a 46-yard field-goal attempt that was wide left.

"I don’t want to sit here and make excuses on that’s the reason why we didn’t capitalize," said Watson, who managed to go 20 of 30. "But it was real tough."

The game’s start was delayed 36 minutes after a severe thunderstorm barrelled into FirstEnergy Stadium just before kickoff.

The hail-producing storm capped a turbulent return from their bye week for the Browns.

Mayfield missed one practice after going on the COVID-19 list after having close contact with an infected staffer, and the team had to briefly shut down its facility on Friday when offensive lineman Chris Hubbard tested positive for the coronavirus.

But there was good news this week, too, as Chubb returned, giving the Browns their best offensive player for a second half they hope leads to their first playoff berth since 2002.

"They did not blink," Stefanski said. "They were unfazed. I told them in the locker room, this is 2020, but you should not expect anything less."

MYLES AND MYLES

Cleveland’s Myles Garrett recorded his 10th sack and stopped Watson short of the goal line in the first half.

With Houston on the 4, Watson took the snap, surveyed the line and thought he had a space to wiggle through on the right side. However, Garrett filled the hole, wrapped his arms around Houston’s quick QB and threw him for a 2-yard loss.

THREE AND OUT

The 3-0 halftime score was the lowest at the break in the NFL this season.

With the wind making everything difficult, the Texans faked a field goal from 48 and pooched a punt inside Cleveland’s 5.

INJURIES

Texans: On the play before Chubb’s TD, Watt had his right ankle rolled on accidentally by Browns guard Wyatt Teller. Watt remained in the game. … RB Duke Johnson, starting in place of the injured David Johnson (concussion), was slow getting up after diving for an incomplete pass, but stayed in.

Browns: No significant injuries.

UP NEXT

Texans: Host New England on Nov. 22.

Browns: Host Philadelphia on Nov. 22 — the club’s third straight home game.

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