Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns: 2021 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-09-19, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with +3.28 total EPA, and +19.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Taylor (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (12:06) 7-J.Gillan punts 37 yards to HOU 28, Center-47-C.Hughlett. 19-A.Roberts MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by CLE-44-S.Takitaki at HOU 35.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Taylor · Houston Texans · Passing · +11.80 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
2. 2 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +5.26 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Felton · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.55 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Mills · Houston Texans · Passing · +4.43 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Cooks · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.62 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Mayfield · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +3.28 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Hooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Higgins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.23 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cleveland Browns — A. Janovich (Q1 55:00)
• Houston Texans — P. Lindsay (Q1 50:27)
• Houston Texans — unlisted player (Q2 37:14)
• Cleveland Browns — B. Mayfield (Q2 31:20)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Felton (B. Mayfield pass) (Q3 22:59)
• Houston Texans — B. Cooks (D. Mills pass) (Q4 11:34)
• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (Q4 5:59)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — C. McLaughlin (Q3 19:43)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q1 55:00) — (10:00) 31-A.Janovich up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 54:56) — 3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 22 (Q1 50:27) — (5:27) 5-Ty.Taylor pass short right to 30-P.Lindsay for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 50:18) — 16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 21–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 15 (Q2 37:14) — (7:14) (Shotgun) 5-Ty.Taylor scrambles right end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 37:06) — 16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 35 (Q2 37:06) — 16-J.Slye kicks 65 yards from HOU 35 to end zone, Touchback.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 75 (Q2 37:06) — (7:06) (Shotgun) 24-N.Chubb left end pushed ob at CLE 46 for 21 yards (20-Ju.Reid).; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 5 (Q2 31:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield scrambles up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 31:14) — 3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 10–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 33 (Q3 22:59) — (7:59) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 25-D.Felton for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 22:50); Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 12 (Q3 19:43) — (4:43) 3-C.McLaughlin 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q4 11:34) — (11:34) 10-D.Mills pass short right to 13-B.Cooks for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 11:32) — 16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 26 (Q4 5:59) — (5:59) 24-N.Chubb right guard for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 5:52).

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:06) — (12:06) 7-J.Gillan punts 37 yards to HOU 28, Center-47-C.Hughlett. 19-A.Roberts MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by CLE-44-S.Takitaki at HOU 35. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +4.61]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 22:59) — (7:59) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 25-D.Felton for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +4.01]
• Houston Texans (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 10-D.Mills pass incomplete deep right to 13-B.Cooks. PENALTY on CLE-20-G.Newsome, Defensive Pass Interference, 27 yards, enforced at CLE 42 - No Play. Penalty on CLE-23-T.Hill, Defen [WPA +9.8% · EPA +3.32]
• Houston Texans (Q2 37:14) — (7:14) (Shotgun) 5-Ty.Taylor scrambles right end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.43]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 31:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield scrambles up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.5% · EPA +2.58]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:06) — (12:06) 7-J.Gillan punts 37 yards to HOU 28, Center-47-C.Hughlett. 19-A.Roberts MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by CLE-44-S.Takitaki at HOU 35. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +4.61]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 47:20) — (2:20) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 11-D.Peoples-Jones to HOU 27 for 15 yards (20-Ju.Reid). FUMBLES (20-Ju.Reid), RECOVERED by HOU-58-C.Kirksey at HOU 28. 58-C.Kirksey to HOU 27 for -1 [WPA -7.7% · EPA -4.39]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 22:59) — (7:59) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 25-D.Felton for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +4.01]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 39:54) — (9:54) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep middle intended for 10-A.Schwartz INTERCEPTED by 20-Ju.Reid at HOU 29. 20-Ju.Reid to CLE 47 for 24 yards (78-J.Conklin). CLE-6-B.Mayfield was injured during the [WPA -6.1% · EPA -3.92]

Quarterback report card

B.Mayfield led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 29 dropbacks · 65.5% completion · +19.6% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +3.28 total EPA
• D.Mills (Houston Texans) · 21 dropbacks · 38.1% completion · -16.9% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +4.43 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Cleveland Browns held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs +0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 10 drives, +12.55 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 9 drives, +3.27 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Taylor (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Mayfield (CLE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Mills (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 55:00 · HOU 1 · Score 0-6
   (10:00) 31-A.Janovich up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 54:56 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 50:27 · CLE 22 · Score 6-7
   (5:27) 5-Ty.Taylor pass short right to 30-P.Lindsay for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 50:18 · CLE 15 · Score 7-7
   16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
5. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 37:14 · CLE 15 · Score 13-7
   (7:14) (Shotgun) 5-Ty.Taylor scrambles right end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 37:06 · CLE 15 · Score 14-7
   16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
7. Houston Texans TD (+7) — Q2 37:06 · HOU 35 · Score 14-7
   16-J.Slye kicks 65 yards from HOU 35 to end zone, Touchback.
8. Houston Texans TD (+7) — Q2 37:06 · HOU 75 · Score 14-7
   (7:06) (Shotgun) 24-N.Chubb left end pushed ob at CLE 46 for 21 yards (20-Ju.Reid).
9. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 31:20 · HOU 5 · Score 14-13
   (1:20) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield scrambles up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 31:14 · HOU 15 · Score 14-14
    3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan.
11. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 22:59 · HOU 33 · Score 14-20
    (7:59) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 25-D.Felton for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 22:50 · HOU 15 · Score 14-21
    3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan. PENALTY on HOU-24-T.Smith, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
13. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 19:43 · HOU 12 · Score 14-24
    (4:43) 3-C.McLaughlin 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan.
14. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 11:34 · CLE 2 · Score 20-24
    (11:34) 10-D.Mills pass short right to 13-B.Cooks for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 11:32 · CLE 15 · Score 21-24
    16-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
16. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 5:59 · HOU 26 · Score 21-30
    (5:59) 24-N.Chubb right guard for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 5:52 · HOU 15 · Score 21-31
    3-C.McLaughlin extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-7-J.Gillan. PENALTY on HOU-37-T.Thomas, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.