HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- The Texans passed their first test of the 2021 NFL season, beating the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars handily in their season-opener.
Going against the Cleveland Browns presents its own new challenges.
The Browns have a dynamic run game with backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Their offensive line, while banged up, is also elite.
Both tackles, Jack Conklin (knee) on the right side and Jedrick Willis Jr. (ankle) on the left, and center JC Tretter missed practice Wednesday with injuries.
Still, the Texans are expecting a fight up front, with the Browns' commitment to running the ball.
Tight ends Austin Hooper and David Njoku are also formidable in both the running and passing games.
Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith said experience has taught him that big improvements happen from week one to week two. The Texans are going to need it.
"Stars at every position, it seems like," Smith said of the Browns' offense. "It will be a big challenge for us. When you're building a program like we're doing right now and coming back up, it's good to see how you matchup against one of the best teams in our conference."
The Browns are coming off a 33-29 loss to the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, but they led 22-10 at halftime before the Chiefs' comeback. Cleveland ranked in the top 10 across the league for both passing and rushing yards in week one.
Smith said it's the Browns' balanced attack, and their effectiveness with it, that will present challenges for the Texans.
"You don't want to be an offense that's one dimensional, that can only run it or pass it," Smith said. "When you have balance, it makes the defense play honestly. Most defenses start off trying to stop the run. They have two excellent running backs, real good offensive line, three good tight ends and there is a commitment to running the football."
With Odell Beckham Jr. ruled out of Sunday's game, the Browns still have Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins as weapons at wide receiver.
It's the tight ends in Hooper and Njoku who can put the Texans defense in the most conflict.
"They like their tight ends so much, sometimes they don't go three receivers. They keep both tight ends," Smith said. "That really causes problems when you can do that. Again, it will be a challenge. We like our matchups, too, though."
Offensively, the Texans will try to keep quarterback Tyrod Taylor upright with Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney coming off the edges.
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2017 with the Jaguars and Super Bowl champion two years earlier with the Denver Broncos, is also a force up front.
Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly joined the staff in the same year Clowney was drafted No. 1 overall by Houston, so he knows what to expect.
"He's as disruptive as ever," Kelly said Thursday. "From the moment he got here, he was a guy you had to know where he was every single snap, or he has the ability to wreck every play. So that hasn't changed. It didn't change last year when he was with Tennessee. We didn't see him when he was on Seattle, but getting ready for him these past two seasons brings back a lot of memories of him on the field and you still see the playmaking ability that he has.
"He's still sudden. He's still strong. He's still explosive. So he's a guy we're going to have to take care of here if we're going to have a good game on Sunday."
As for dealing with Garrett and Clowney as a tandem, Kelly noted they have similar physical traits with different playing styles.
"The fact that they're both really long, play with good length," Kelly said. "They have really good explosion, the athleticism. Playing styles are a little bit different, but they're both very dangerous off the edge."
Other defensive players to watch for the Browns are linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who spent the past four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, safety John Johnson and cornerback Denzel Ward.
Kelly describes Walker as an instinctive, smart player who makes plays often.
Johnson, who played with Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks with the Los Angeles Rams, has range and is a good tackler. Kelly said Johnson makes nearly every play in front of him, and very rarely misses an opportunity.
Ward has excellent speed, length, ball skills and is really good at the catch point.
"Their defensive unit is littered with guys you've got to take care of on every down," Kelly said.
The Texans face the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday at noon.
Join us for the pregame show on SportsRadio 610 at 9 a.m. and stick around for the postgame show.
Brandon Scott manages digital content for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott.
Listen to Houston's sports leader now on Audacy and shop the latest Texans team gear.