(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Browns' surprise start to the season now contains some controversy. Regardless, the club will try to remain in the playoff hunt when it hosts the Houston Texans Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Browns enter this weekend with a 6-4 record and victories in four of their last five games. That is good for second place in the AFC North behind 7-3 Pittsburgh, which handed Cleveland its only loss in its past five contests.

That setback came on November 11, but the Browns responded with a big 33-30 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.

After a heartbreaking loss to the Steelers, when Cleveland blew a 21-9 halftime lead, the Browns carried a 27-14 lead into the fourth quarter versus the Ravens. Baltimore then rattled off 16 straight points to go ahead, but Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson sent the game into overtime with a controversial field goal as time expired.

Dawson drilled a 51-yarder that hit off the left upright, then the extension behind the crossbar, and onto the field. The referees originally ruled the kick no good, but after a lengthy review properly reversed the call.

Against the Steelers, Dawson missed a 52-yard field goal attempt against the that would have forced overtime, but capped his redemption with a 33-yard game-winning field goal in the extra sessions of the Baltimore game.

Special teams was key to the Browns' win. In addition to Dawson, Joshua Cribbs set a franchise single-game record with 245 kickoff return yards.

Since a season-opening loss to the Steelers at home, the Browns have ripped off four straight wins as the host and will try for their first five-game home winning streak since 1994.

The Texans are on a winning run of their own as of late. The club improved to 5-5 after Sunday's big 23-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints. It was Houston's second straight win on the season.

The Texans have never won three games in a row in one season, though the club did record a victory in its final two games of the 2006 campaign and first two contests of this season. A win this weekend would also mark the latest the club has ever been over .500 in team history.

Houston was sparked by the return of two of its key offensive pieces versus the Saints. Quarterback Matt Schaub returned after missing a week of action due to a concussion, while explosive wideout Andre Johnson returned after a seven-game layoff.

Johnson was seeing his first action since a win over Carolina in Week 2 due to a sprained right knee.

The Texans were without running back Ahman Green because of a nagging knee injury. Green has been in and out of the lineup all season and is considered questionable for this game.

Despite being at .500, the Texans are in last place in the competitive AFC South, a game back of third-place Tennessee.

SERIES HISTORY

The all-time series between the Browns and Texans is knotted at 2-2, with Houston evening the series by virtue of a 14-6 home win in Week 17 of last season. The Texans also won the previous meeting, a 19-16 triumph at Reliant Stadium in 2005. Cleveland took the first two matchups in the all-time series, a 34-17 home win in 2002 and a 22-14 road affair in 2004.

Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is 0-2 in his career against the Texans. Houston's Gary Kubiak is 1-0 against both Crennel and Cleveland as a head coach.

WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL

Houston received a big boost last weekend with the return of Johnson (20 receptions, 4 TD), who made six catches for 120 yards in the win. He set the tone early and made his presence felt with a 73-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. The Texans were also glad to see Schaub (1,951 passing yards, 7 TD, 7 INT) on the throwing end of that score, as he ended the game with 293 passing yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Joel Dreessen also hauled in a TD pass, his second of the year. The return of Johnson, to go along with wideouts Kevin Walter and Andre Davis (25 receptions, 3 TD) should help boost Houston's already solid passing game, which is seventh in the league at 254.7 yards per game. Walter (46 receptions, 1 TD) made three catches for 31 yards versus New Orleans, while tight end Owen Daniels (44 receptions, 542 receiving yards) added five catches for 74 yards. Daniels is just eight catches and 72 receiving yards shy of surpassing Billy Miller's team records of 51 catches and 613 yards by a tight end. With Green out, Ron Dayne (437 rushing yards, 2 TD) got the start against the Saints and ran for 89 yards on 21 carries. He will likely start again this weekend if Green and his troublesome left knee can't go.

Defense has been Cleveland's Achilles' heel this season, and while the club had a few bright spots versus the Ravens, the unit still allowed a struggling Baltimore offense to post 368 yards of net offense on Sunday. That includes 128 yards on the ground, and Cleveland is 28th in the league against the run (137.8 ypg). The team is also allowing a league-worst 29.3 points and 410.6 yards per game and has given up 30 or more points in each of the last three contest. However, the Browns did record a season-high six sacks against the Ravens, led by defensive end Robaire Smith's career-high two. Smith has 29 tackles on the season, while his sacks were his first of the year. Safety Brodney Pool (33 tackles, 1 INT) also set a Browns franchise record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, breaking the previous record of 97 yards. Defensive back Daven Holly (21 tackles) and lineman Orpheus Roye (19 tackles) paced the Browns with eight tackles each, while safety Sean Jones (55 tackles, 2 INT) had seven tackles and an interception.

WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL

Cleveland continues to light up the scoreboard this year and has been a high- powered club at home this season. Against the Ravens, quarterback Derek Anderson (2,231 passing yards, 20 TD, 9 INT) didn't have his best stuff, but he still threw for 274 yards with an interception. He failed to find the end zone through the air for just the second time this season, but did score his second rushing touchdown of the year. Anderson is 4-0 as a starter at home this year, tossing 10 touchdowns in front of the home crowd. Running back Jamal Lewis (515 rushing yards, 6 TD) victimized his former team, running for 92 yards and a score against Baltimore. He also had four catches for 30 yards to help the NFL's 10th-best passing attack. Cleveland is also scoring 28.3 points per game, fourth-best in the league. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards (43 receptions, 752 yards, 10 TD) continued his outstanding season with eight catches for 85 yards on Sunday, while tight end Kellen Winslow (47 receptions, 703 yards, 4 TD) had five catches for 64 yards. Edwards has six receiving touchdowns at home this year. Wideout Joe Jurevicius (29 receptions, 3 TD), meanwhile, added four catches for 82 yards, the bulk of that coming on a big 50-yard reception.

Houston limited the high-powered Saints offense to 327 net yards but were most impressive against the run, as New Orleans managed just 47 rushing yards. That was a good sign for a defensive unit that is currently ranked 24th in the league (124.2 ypg) against the run. The club is 13th against the pass (203.4 ypg) but is giving up 25.1 points per game, 26th in the NFL. Star linebacker and leading tackler DeMeco Ryans (84 tackles, 2 sacks) led the team with 10 stops, while linebacker Morlon Greenwood (60 tackles) and corner Von Hutchins (56 tackles) each had nine tackles and an interception. For Hutchins, it was his first INT since November of 2004. Defensive end Mario Williams (29 tackles, 5 sacks) had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, while safety C.C. Brown and defensive end Earl Cochran also forced fumbles in the win. If the Texans can get to the quarterback this weekend, they will set a team record with a sack in 12 straight games dating back to last season.

FANTASY FOCUS

Cleveland's big three (Anderson, Edwards and Winslow) have rewarded owners all season and should continue to do so this weekend. The trio gets an average Houston defense and has excelled at home this season. Don't read too much into the Texans' efforts against the run last weekend either, so also give Lewis a look. For Houston, owners who stuck it out with Johnson should see a boost in their team's production, and his return to the lineup also makes Schaub more valuable. Both should explode against Cleveland, as should Daniels and Walter. Stay away from Green this weekend, as he probably won't play, and Dayne is worth a flex start at best, though he may enjoy a big week against the Browns' horrid defense if he is the lone back.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

It's a shame that these two clubs have to play each other this weekend, as both are enjoying some surprising success. However, one has to lose this Sunday and in turn, have a big blow landed towards its playoff hopes. The Browns high-powered offense has bailed out its defense several times this year and the defensive unit will have its hands full with Schaub, Johnson and Walter. Houston has a trio of talented, young defensive players in Ryans, Williams and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, but while that can stifle the Cleveland run game, the defense also needs to get a lot of pressure on Anderson to give Houston a chance. The Browns, though, have a huge advantage as the home team and will ride their offense to yet another win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Browns 31, Texans 24