Houston Texans (4-6) at Cleveland Browns (6-3)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein

*Keys to the game: It starts – and maybe ends – for the Texans with the health of RB Arian Foster. Nursing a groin injury, Foster is expected to play, and Houston needs him shouldering his typical workload with QB Ryan Mallett making his first NFL start. Everyone knows Mallett has a rocket for an arm. What we haven’t seen is if he knows how to read defenses, hit defenders in stride and avoid turnovers. Houston wants to mitigate that risk factor as much as possible, and enters having run the ball on 50.5 percent of its plays this season.

The only team with a higher percentage? The Browns, at 50.9. Cleveland sports a backfield trio of former Foster backup Ben Tate and rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West. The Browns ran it 52 times in their victory last week at Cincinnati, the team’s most since 1987. Cleveland does want to establish the run early. Not only is Texans DL J.J. Watt steamrolling quarterbacks on his way to Defensive Player of the Year honors, but Whitney Mercilus has 4.0 sacks and top pick Jadeveon Clowney will return in a pass-rushing role.

*Matchup to watch – Texans ILB Brian Cushing vs. Hoyer: Cushing is also expected to return from a sore knee. The Browns won’t have TE Jordan Cameron (concussion), but look for Hoyer to attack Cushing in space, as the linebacker has shown reduced speed and mobility while struggling to keep pace with running backs and tight ends.

*Player spotlight – Texans CB A.J. Bouye: Typically the first cornerback off the bench, Bouye gets the start with Kareem Jackson (knee) out.

*Fast facts: Foster leads the league with 59 rushing touchdowns and 122.6 yards from scrimmage per game dating back to the start of the 2010 season.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

In the battle of Tom Brady’s former backups, Hoyer has a clear edge in experience. He’s also playing at home, likely in frigid temperatures, and possibly in snow. In a throwback to the Oilers vs. Browns on banks of Lake Erie in the old AFC Central clashes, Cleveland eeks out an ugly win.

*Our pick: Browns 19-13