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By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor-in-chief
CLEVELAND, Ohio– After losing the first game of the regular NFL season to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, the Cleveland Browns won their season home opener Sunday afternoon against the Houston Texans at a sold out FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, a win that makes them 1-1 on the season.
FirstEnergy Stadium has a seating capacity of 67, 895 people, and Browns fans were up in arms practically the entire game.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters during a press conference after the game that the crowd was outstanding and that Sunday's victory over the Texans was "a good team win."
Andy Janovich ran in the first touchdown of the game, a one-yard touchdown run for the Browns, which was followed by a field goal.
Longtime Texans quarterback Davis Mills completed 10-of-11 passes for 125 yards, and would find Tyrod Taylor, who brought in the first touchdown for the Texans, followed by a field goal.
Taylor would also run for a second touchdown for the Texans, bringing the score to a 13-7 over the Browns before the Browns made their second field goal of the game.
Even with Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry not suiting up due to injuries, Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield led his team to victory with 19 of 21 passing, and with 213 yards and one touch down, though he did have one interception. That five-yard running touchdown by Mayfield came after a second quarter shoulder injury that took him to the locker room where he returned thereafter and led his team on a 74 yard drive to tie the game at 14-14 at halftime.
After half time the Browns, following a mediocre first half, won the third quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points.
Mayfield would execute a wide receiver film to rookie Demetric Felton Jr., who went 33 yards for the touchdown, and Chase McLaughlin added a field goal to bring the Brown's lead to 24-14.
The Texans would answer with a 16 play drive and two-yard touchdown run by Brandon Cooks, and a field goal, which would bring the score to within three at 24-21. But the Browns would respond with a 26- yard rushing touchdown run off the right side by Nick Chubb into the end zone, and then with a field goal. This would bring the score to 31-21, which would be the final score of the game, and a win for the Browns.
In addition to one touch down, Chubb, a running back and 2018 second-round draft pick for the Browns, rushed 95 yards on 11 carries.
Sunday's game against the Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium was, no doubt, a rebound win for their loss last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, whom the Browns lost to in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round. And while last Sunday's loss to the Chiefs was heart-wrenching for Browns fans, the loss itself was not at all surprising.
The Browns lost 22-17 to the Chiefs to end last year's season after making the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, and the Chiefs, the AFC champion at the time, went on to lose to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at last year's Super Bowl.
The Browns will play their third regular season game on Sunday, Sept 26, a home game against the Chicago Bears.
Clevelandurbannews.com and-Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.