There's bonus NFL action on Saturday and our Paul Higham is in the strange position of backing the Cleveland Browns as part of a suggested double.
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2pts Texans & Browns both to win at 2/1
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Houston Texans @ New York Jets (2130 GMT)
The Texans were the hottest team in the league until their nine-game winning run was snapped by the Colts, but there’s still an AFC South title there for the taking and a rebound win in the Big Apple can inch them a step closer.
They’re also in with a shout of the No.2 seed in the AFC although they’re not being talked about as much the likes of the Patriots and Steelers but they look to have a better balanced team with a host of weapons.
QB Deshaun Watson is a special talent with both his arm and legs, Lamar Miller is a solid running back and in DeAndre Hopkins they have an elite receiver – in short they’re loaded.
On offence the Jets have Sam Darnold back at QB who certainly has his merits, but will be tested by JJ Watt and company, while on defence New York struggles to contain opposition runners, which isn’t a good sign against Miller & Watson.
Verdict: Houston win (-7) at 10/11
Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos (0120 GMT)
We’re in the strange position of seeing the Cleveland Browns playing in a meaningful game in December, and in the even more unfamiliar scenario of actually backing them to win!
The stats aren’t great, they’ve not beaten the Broncos in 11 games, that’s 28 years, but then again Cleveland’s stats will be heavily against them given how bad they’ve been in recent years.
Five wins this season is already more than they’ve mustered in the previous three season combined, and there’s no doubt they’re finally on an upward curve after years in the doldrums.
Denver on the road is not the easiest game, and they’ll want a response after their recovery run into the play-offs came to a shuddering halt with a thumping by the 49ers, but the Browns have all the tools necessary to pull off the upset.
QB Baker Mayfield is the real deal and this offence can score points – in contrast the Case Keenum-led Denver attack has been average at best recently so there’s enough evidence here to suggest that the Browns can keep their own wafer-thin play-off prospects intact.
Verdict: Cleveland Browns to win at 11/10
