Browns face Texans in Ohio

Brady Quinn waited a season and a half for his chance to become the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback. Three games into his tenure, he’s not about to let a broken finger keep him out of the lineup.

Quinn sustained a fracture on the tip of his right index finger sometime during the Browns’ 29-27 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. The second-year pro from Notre Dame has practiced this week and says he’ll be ready to play when the Browns take the field Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest against the visiting Houston Texans.

Throughout the contest, Quinn moved adroitly in the pocket, stepping away from rushing defenders and buying extra time for his receivers to get open. Collinsworth and play-by-play announcer Bob Papa lauded Quinn's decision-making in directing a Browns offense that finished with 399 total yards.

“I banged up my finger Monday night. I think it was the first quarter,” Quinn said Thursday. “I hit it again later in the second quarter. At this point it is a little sore. I practiced yesterday (Wednesday), practicing today (Thursday). We are just doing the best we can to take a little precaution and make sure it’s all right, and that’s pretty much it.”

Cleveland (4-6) will be aiming to build upon the momentum generated from Monday night’s dramatic win at Buffalo. After the Browns squandered an early 13-0 lead against the Bills and fell behind 27-26 with 2:25 left, Quinn directed a 38-yard drive that resulted in a 56-yard field goal by Phil Dawson with 1:39 remaining. The Browns then held on for the two-point victory when Bills kicker Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard field goal with 38 seconds left.

The Texans (3-7) fell to Indianapolis last week, 33-27, for their third consecutive defeat.

Houston's offense features a pair of big-play threats in receiver Andre Johnson and running back Steve Slaton. Johnson, a sixth-year pro from Miami, has 71 catches on the season for a league-leading 955 yards. Slaton, a rookie from West Virginia, has rushed for 701 yards.

Sage Rosenfels is slated to get the start at quarterback for the Texans in relief of the injured Matt Schaub.

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Houston Texans (3-7) at Cleveland Browns (4-6)

When: 1 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 23

Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium

Series: Sixth meeting; Browns lead 3-2

Last year: Browns defeated the Texans, 27-17, on Nov. 25, 2007

Prediction: Browns 24, Texans 17

By Tom Kessler
ProFootball-fans.com Cleveland Browns Correspondent