Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Browns v. Houston Texans

Sunday, 1 p.m., NRG Stadium

Record: 8-3.

Coach: Bill O’Brien, 40-38, fifth year.

Last game: Defeated Tennessee Titans, 34-17, Nov. 26, in Houston.

Series: Texans lead, 6-3.

Last meeting: Texans won, 33-17, Oct. 15, 2017, in Houston.

NFL rankings: Offense is 12th overall (fourth rushing, 19th passing), defense is eighth overall (seventh rushing, 11th passing) and turnover differential is plus-4.

Things I think

1. After eight wins in a row, the Texans have positioned themselves for a run at a first-round playoff bye. They’re currently tied in overall record with New England -- one game behind 9-2 Kansas City – but lost to the Patriots in Week 1. Blessed with the AFC South last-place schedule, they have a chance at a No. 2 seed, so every AFC game is important to them. Besides the Browns, they play the Colts, Jets and Jaguars, and also the NFC Eagles. The Texans are coming off an emotional Monday night win against division rival Tennessee, just a few days after the passing of owner Bob McNair, who had been ill for several years. Bill O’Brien’s challenge is to stave off an emotional letdown against the Browns.

2. The Texans are loaded on defense, but their short- and long-term hopes depend on quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson is fully recovered from ACL surgery in his rookie season, but he was getting his brains beat out through the team’s first five games. An exceptionally brutal, if clean, hit on Watson by Dallas linebacker Jaylon Smith resulted in a cracked rib, bruised lung and partially collapsed lung. Since then, the Texans have made some changes. Through five games, Watson was averaging 38 pass attempts and 8.8 runs. Over the last six games, he is averaging 23.5 pass attempts and 4.6 runs. Their overall scoring may be down from when Watson was lighting up defenses as a rookie, but he’s playing sounder and safer football. And they haven’t lost a game since.

3. Three-time NFL defensive player of the year J.J. Watt is almost as good as new after recovering from a gruesome broken leg last year. The year before, Watt missed all but three games because of back problems that required two surgeries. Watt is the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks per game (.88) and this year ranks second in the league in sacks (11.5), seventh in quarterback hits (19), tied for fourth in tackles for loss (13) and tied for first in forced fumbles (five). In a game in Cleveland in 2014, Watt had a sack, forced fumble and recovery, three tackles for loss, committed two roughing-the-kicker penalties after near-blocks of punts, and caught a 2-yard touchdown pass. He no longer takes snap on offense.

4. The gauntlet of Pro Bowl receivers continues for Denzel Ward. Next up is DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins already has joined Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans and Odell Beckham Jr. as the only receivers to post 1,000 yards receiving in four of the last five years. Ward has already gone up against Jones, Brown and Evans this season, among other receiver stalwarts. Hopkins is often overlooked, but he might be the league’s best receiver when considering all his skills – catching, running after the catch, high-pointing balls, blocking and contesting balls. He’s having another typical great year, on pace for 106 catches, 1,489 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Did you know … ?

1. Bill O’Brien’s coaching staff includes two of the best coordinators in the business – Romeo Crennel on defense and Brad Seely on special teams. Both are former Browns coaches.

2. One of the best acquisitions made by the Texans this year was safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals after declining a pay cut. Mathieu is having his best year in six NFL seasons. He’s one of three safeties in the NFL with at least three sacks and two interceptions. He’s also third on the team in tackles.

3. Running back Lamar Miller had a 97-yard touchdown run against the Titans. He also had a 97-yard touchdown run for the Dolphins in 2014. He’s the only player ever with two touchdown runs of at least 95 yards and owns two of the six longest runs in NFL history.

Small world: Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was Browns head coach from 2005 to 2008 and also served as Browns Sdefensive coordinator in 2000 … Special teams coordinator Brad Seely held that job with the Browns in 2009-10 … Defensive line coach Anthony Weaver had the same job with the Browns 2014-15 … Cornerback Johnson Bademosi played for the Browns in 2012-15 and led them in special teams tackles each of his four seasons … Quarterback Brandon Weeden was a Browns first-round pick in 2012 and was 5-14 in games he started.