Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb delivers backbreaker in 31-21 win over Texans

Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
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CLEVELAND — When the Browns needed to end the drama against the Houston Texans, they turned to the most no-nonsense player on their stacked roster.

Facing second-and-9, two-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb broke loose for a 26-yard rushing touchdown with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter, lifting the Browns to a 31-21 victory over the Texans in Sunday's home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Chubb finished with 11 carries for 95 yards (8.6 average) and a touchdown.

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield went 19-of-21 passing (90.5%) for 213 yards and a touchdown with an interception for a rating of 105.

Coach Kevin Stefanski stressed throughout last week his team couldn't afford to overlook the Texans (1-1), who defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-21 in Week 1.

Browns running back Nick Chubb pulls away in the first half.
Browns running back Nick Chubb pulls away in the first half.

Stefanski proved to be prophetic.

The Texans scratched and clawed. With 11:32 left in the fourth quarter, rookie quarterback Davis Mills completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks on third-and-goal, and the Texans cut their deficit to 24-21 at the end of a 16-play, 75-yard drive.

Cleveland never lost back-to-back games under Stefanski last season, his first year on the job.

The Browns needed to bounce back after last week's 33-29 season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Cleveland offense got off to a scorching start this season by scoring a touchdown on its first three possessions, and the unit totaled 457 yards in Kansas City.

The Browns (1-1) played in a packed house on the lakefront for the first time since the 2019 season. Attendance last season was capped at 12,000 due to COVID-19 restrictions, meaning coach Kevin Stefanski is among the members of the Browns who never experienced the full force of a rabid Cleveland fan base in 2020. After undergoing renovation, the stadium seats 67,431, according to the team.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Nick Chubb delivers backbreaker in win over Texans