Browns vs. Texans 2018 Prediction: Baker Mayfield Will Outduel Deshaun Watson, End Houston's Streak

The Houston Texans are the AFC’s hottest team with an eight-game winning streak entering Week 13. That could come to an end, however, when the team hosts the surging Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon.

The betting public seems to have confidence in Houston since the odds have shifted in their favor. The Texans opened as 4.5-point favorites at home, and the line has since moved. Cleveland is now a six-point underdog, according to OddsShark.

The Texans are 3.5 games ahead of the Browns in the standings. They haven’t lost since September and are in contention to get a first-round bye in the playoffs. Houston was absolutely dominant in their last game, defeating the Tennessee Titans 34-17 on “Monday Night Football.”

With a 4-6-1 record, Cleveland might not have a realistic chance to make the postseason. There is reason to believe the Browns will finish the season strong after a poor first half.

Cleveland has looked like a completely different team since Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were fired. After losing 37-21 to the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland has won two games going away. The Browns beat the Atlanta Falcons 28-16 in Week 11, and they followed that up with a 35-20 win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Baker Mayfield is showing why he was the No.1 pick in the NFL Draft under new offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. During Cleveland’s two-game winning streak, the quarterback has thrown for seven touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 78.3 percent of his passes. He posted passer ratings of 151.3 and 143.9.

Houston does have a much better defense than what Mayfield faced against Atlanta and Cincinnati, but there’s no denying that the rookie is in a position to keep putting up big numbers. J.J. Watt and the Texans’ defensive front could be somewhat neutralized against an offense that hasn’t allowed a sack in either of the last two games.

The Texans have a budding superstar at quarterback themselves. Deshaun Watson has shined of late, posting a passer rating better than 125 in three of his last four games.

During their eight-game winning streak, Houston has received plenty of breaks while facing a weak schedule.

The Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts when Houston scored a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of overtime because of a questionable fourth-down call by head coach Frank Reich. The Texans defeated the Dallas Cowboys in overtime shortly before the team traded for Amari Cooper. When Houston beat the Washington Redskins on the road, Colt McCoy was forced to go under center for almost half the game. Houston was even fortunate to beat the Denver Broncos because Vance Joseph inexplicably decided to settle for a 51-yard-field goal as time expired.

Dallas and Washington are the only current playoff teams Houston beat during their winning streak. The way Cleveland is playing now, they are probably better than most of the opponents the Texans have faced.

Sunday’s game should come down to the wire, and this could be the spot where Houston’s luck finally runs out.

Prediction: Cleveland over Houston, 27-26

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