Joe Flacco arrived in Cleveland a little more than a month ago, and in a short time he has brought stability to the quarterback position and put the Browns in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Case Keenum has taken a different path, but he is trying to accomplish the same thing as quarterback of the Texans. Keenum is expected to start Dec. 24 against the Browns in Houston because Texans rookie sensation C.J. Stroud remains in concussion protocol after being injured Dec. 10 in a game with the Jets. Stroud did not finish the Jets game and hasn’t practiced since being injured.
“Well, I’d like to say this about CJ Stroud first,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Dec. 21. “He doesn’t look like a rookie. He was playing at a really high level. Certainly, wish him the best for his career. Concussions aren’t something to mess around with. If he’s able to play, we’ll be ready for him.
“Case Keenum has been around for a long time, a true vet that has seen everything. Very accurate passer. He does it a little bit different than CJ Stroud, but he led him to a win last week. And when it’s all said and done, head coaches and quarterbacks are judged on wins, and Case Keenum is a winner.”
Keenum was 23 of 36 passing for 229 yards with one touchdown and one interception last week when the Texans squeaked by the Titans, 19-16.
The Texans were down, 16-9, in the fourth quarter. Keenum, getting his first start of the season because of the Stroud injury, led a 79-yard, 10-play march and capped it off with a three-yard touchdown pass to Noah Brown to tie the score with 3:03 to play. The game went into overtime. Keenum took the Texans from the Houston 20 to the Titans 36 before Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal with two seconds to play to break the 16-16 tie.
“Definitely familiar with Case and how he likes to play, so I think that’s a plus in going into the game,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said. “He’s a good quarterback, able to get the ball to his guys and make the throws needed and get an offense moving.”
Keenum, 35, began his NFL career as an undrafted rookie with the Texans in 2013. He was with the Rams in 2015 and 2016 and Minnesota in 2017, where current Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was the Vikings’ quarterback coach. Keenum was with the Broncos in 2018, Commanders in 2019, the Browns in 2020 and ’21 and the Bills in 2022. His best year was 2017 when he went 11-3 as a starter for the Vikings. He is 30-35 at a starter over his long career.
“We prepare for all of their quarterbacks,” Stefanski said. “Case comes in last week, starts and wins. That’s what he does. He’s played a lot of football games in his career, started a lot of football games in his career, has won. So we know the type of talent that he has.”
The Browns, 9-5, are the fifth seed in the AFC, making them the top wild-card team heading into Week 16. According to NFL.com, the Browns have a 90% probability of making the playoffs. That will increase to 99% if they beat the Texans. They would still have a 78% chance to make the playoffs even if they lose.
Houston is 8-6 and currently the eighth seed. Only the four division winners plus three wild-card teams make the playoffs. In other words, this game is vital to the Texans. They currently have a 49% probability of making the playoffs. That jumps to 73% if they beat the Browns and falls to 32% if they lose.
Injury report
Browns – LG Joel Bitonio (back, knee), linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf), linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) and safety Juan Thornhill did not practice Dec. 21. Center Ethan Pocic (stinger) was limited.
Texans – Defensive end Will Anderson (ankle), linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring), quarterback CJ. Stroud (concussion) did not practice Dec. 21.
BROWNS AT TEXANS
When: 1 p.m., Dec. 24
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
Records: Browns 9-5, Texans 8-6
TV: WOIO (Ian Eagle and Charles Davis announcing)
Radio: WKRK-FM 92.3, WNCX-FM 98.5, WKNR-AM 850 (Andrew Siciliano and Nathan Zegura announcing)
