Cleveland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2017 ) Cleveland 17, Houston 33

The Houston Texans are enjoying the longest winning streak in the AFC at eight consecutive games and are trying to position themselves for an AFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Cleveland Browns, who visit the Texans on Sunday, are on the upswing as well and are winners of two straight behind rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Houston is two games clear of the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) in the AFC South and only has one game remaining against an opponent with a winning record - at home against the Colts in Week 14 - as it sits tied with New England for the No. 2 spot in the AFC, though the Patriots own the head-to-head tiebreaker. "We just kind of started slow early on in the season," Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters. "We were just a couple of plays from being 3-0. It didn't fall our way, but we corrected those mistakes and made sure that we stayed on top of our game and kept grinding. And now we're sitting here at 8-3 and have an opportunity to do something special. ... And if we can do that, sky's the limit for us." Cleveland already matched the franchise's total of wins from the previous three seasons and continues to improve under interim coach Gregg Williams. "Our guys have done a very good job of realizing and capturing the moment, capturing the meeting and changing from walkthrough attitude to practice attitude and then from practice attitude to game attitude," Williams told reporters. "Then the execution, each and every space has to be faster and better. I have been pleased with them."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -6. O/U: 47

ABOUT THE BROWNS (4-6-1): Mayfield was on fire in wins each of the last two weeks, combining to complete 36-of-46 passes for 474 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. "As the experience continues, the comfortability grows," Mayfield told reporters. "Really nothing else to that. As I see more looks and more things, I'm going to be more comfortable. I just got to go out there and do my job." Mayfield benefits from an offensive line that did not allow a sack in either of the last two contests and a running game that features rookie Nick Chubb, who totaled 337 yards from scrimmage and four TDs in the last two games.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (8-3): Houston set a franchise record with 281 rushing yards in Monday's 34-17 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans, led by Lamar Miller's 162 yards on 12 carries. "(The running game) just opened up the whole offense," Watson told reporters. "The safeties get aggressive. The defense has to show what their hand is. That was the challenge tonight for our offensive line and the running backs to kind of set the run game and open up the pass game. That's what we did, and if the run game is clicking, we're going to make sure we're going to stay rolling with that momentum." Watson added 70 yards and a score on the ground to go with a pair of passing TDs and did not turn the ball over after tossing a pair of interceptions in the previous game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Texans activated LB Dylan Cole (wrist) off IR and waived LB Josh Keyes.

2. Cleveland DE Myles Garrett recorded at least one sack in four of the last five games.

3. Houston took the last four in the series, including a 33-17 home win last season.

PREDICTION: Texans 28, Browns 24