INSIDE SLANT

NFL Team Report - Cleveland Browns</h2><br>It's December and Browns are alive<p></p> For the first time in more than four years the Cleveland Browns are riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak as they head into their next game.<p></p> Such a modest winning streak might be no big deal to teams such as the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints or the Browns' road opponent on Sunday, the Houston Texans, but in Cleveland it is cause to celebrate. Now 4-6-1, the Brown won as many times in the first 11 games this year as in the three previous seasons combined.<p></p> The Browns beat the Atlanta Falcons, 28-16, on Nov. 11, had their bye on Nov. 18 and then beat the Bengals, 35-20, in Cincinnati last Sunday. The victory snapped a 25-game road losing streak and ended a streak in which the Bengals beat the Browns seven straight times.<p></p> "I still think that we can be better," interim head coach Gregg Williams said. "The thing that we have to do is continue to push to be better to be able to take a look at where we were good here and continue on in that vein, but also we have some corrections. We have to get all of this stuff processed and then move onto the Texans."<p></p> The Texans will present a much tougher challenge for the Browns than the Bengals did. The Browns handed the Bengals their fifth loss in six games. The Texans, leaders in the AFC South, lost their first three games. They have won eight straight since stumbling out of the gate.<p></p> Williams and his staff were able to "TV scout" the Texans on Monday night. They saw Texans running back Lamar Miller rush for 162 yards and a touchdown and they saw the Texans swamp Titans running back Marcus Mariota with six sacks.<p></p> It is a steep mountain to climb with only five games remaining, but the Browns believe they have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs. After meeting the Texans they host the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 9, play in Denver Dec. 15, host the Bengals Dec. 23 and finish the regular season in Baltimore on Dec 30.<p></p> The Browns are taking a "one-game-at-a-time" approach to the rest of the season. That doesn't seem to fit the playoff talk, but it does as far as third-year linebacker Joe Schobert is concerned. Schobert was on teams that were 1-31 his first two seasons, so for him this is uncharted territory.<p></p> "Being in the hunt in December is all you can really ask for when you start the season," Schobert said. "Just to have meaningful games is big for the morale in the whole building, and as well as the fans and fan base that has been kind of starving for wins the last couple of years. To be able to put ourselves in position for that is just a sign of a step forward for this organization."<p></p> The Browns haven't been in the playoffs since 2002 when they lost a wild-card game to the Steelers, 36-33. They last won a playoff game in 1994 when Bill Belichick was head coach and they beat the Patriots, 20-13, in a wild-card game.<p></p> The Browns would play one more season in Cleveland before former team owner Art Modell moved them to Baltimore. The team was renamed the Ravens.<p></p> SERIES HISTORY: 10th regular-season meeting. Texans lead series, 9-3. The Browns have played the Texans five times in Houston and won only once. It was a game Terry Robiskie will never forget. He took over as interim head coach when Butch Davis resigned with five games remaining in 2004. He was 0-4, but the Browns finally made him a winner by beating the Texans, 22-14, on Jan. 2, 2005. </div> <div class="flex gap-2"> <div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div> </div> <div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div> </div> </div> <div class="py-6 space-y-6"> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2> <a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> 2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>Read More Stories</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2> <a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? 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