The Texans will not have WR Andre Johnson for a fifth consective game on Sunday. While this will leave the Houston offense not quite as strong as it would have been otherwise, the Texans' attack still figures to prove the difference in this game.

In the four games Johnson has missed, the Texans are averaging 410.5 yards and 24.8 points. The Browns, meanwhile, are averaging 305.7 yards and 15.3 points on the season. The Texans have scored eight fewer points in four games without Johnson than Cleveland has scored all season.

The Browns have a fine defense, but their offense will be missing tailbacks Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. The Texans' defense, once a major liability, is allowing the third-fewest yards per game. 

Anything close to the Texans' best game will put Cleveland in a very tough spot, and Houston has a little room for error, too, in my view. The Browns are game and will be competitive, but I believe the Texans to be a likely winner here.

Prediction: Texans 23, Browns 13

Season-to-date prediction record: 5-2