National Football League
BOXSCORE | PLAY-BY-PLAY | RECAP
Cleveland 36, Houston 22
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 24, 2023
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: Tra Blake
Attendance: 70831
Final Scoring Summary
 
Final1234T
Cleveland 7156836
Houston 0701522
1st Quarter
1Q 15:00 Cleveland
HOU 35 15-K. Fairbairn kicks 60 yards, 20-P. Strong Jr. returns for 36 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 41 14:53 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 53 yards.
Cleveland timeout at 14:07
1 and goal - HOU 6 14:07 Direct snap to 27-K. Hunt, 27-K. Hunt rush for 2 yards.
2 and goal - HOU 4 13:27 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 85-D. Njoku.
3 and goal - HOU 4 13:23 Direct snap to 34-J. Ford, 34-J. Ford rush for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7-D. Hopkins extra point is GOOD.
CLE 7    HOU 0    Plays: 4    Possession: 1:42
1Q 13:18 Houston
CLE 35 7-D. Hopkins kicks 57 yards, 31-D. Pierce returns for 19 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 27 13:12 18-C. Keenum pass to 26-D. Singletary for 7 yards.
2 and 3 - HOU 34 12:37 26-D. Singletary rush for 5 yards. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 39.
1 and 10 - HOU 44 12:14 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 12-N. Collins. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 44 - No play.
1 and 10 - HOU 49 12:07 10-D. Mills rush for no gain.
2 and 10 - HOU 49 11:32 26-D. Singletary rush for 1 yard.
3 and 9 - 50 10:48 PENALTY on Houston, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at 50 - No play.
3 and 14 - HOU 45 10:37 18-C. Keenum pass to 12-N. Collins for 2 yards.
4 and 12 - HOU 47 9:53 11-C. Johnston punts 42 yards, fair catch by 11-J. Proche II.
1Q 9:47 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 11 9:47 15-J. Flacco pass to 88-H. Bryant for 6 yards.
2 and 4 - CLE 17 9:05 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 34-J. Ford.
3 and 4 - CLE 17 9:00 15-J. Flacco pass to 19-C. Tillman for 6 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 23 8:11 34-J. Ford rush for no gain.
2 and 10 - CLE 23 7:34 34-J. Ford rush for no gain.
3 and 10 - CLE 23 6:55 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 27-K. Hunt. PENALTY on Cleveland, Offensive Holding (declined).
4 and 10 - CLE 23 6:50 13-C. Bojorquez punts 55 yards, 2-R. Woods returns for 12 yards, forced out of bounds.
1Q 6:37 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 34 6:37 18-C. Keenum pass to 26-D. Singletary for 27 yards, forced out of bounds. PENALTY on Houston, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at HOU 38.
1 and 16 - HOU 28 6:10 26-D. Singletary rush for 2 yards.
2 and 14 - HOU 30 5:29 10-D. Mills pass to 47-A. Beck for 5 yards.
3 and 9 - HOU 35 4:51 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 33-D. Ogunbowale.
4 and 9 - HOU 35 4:47 11-C. Johnston punts 56 yards, 11-J. Proche II returns for 12 yards, forced out of bounds.
1Q 4:36 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 21 4:36 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 22 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - CLE 43 3:58 20-P. Strong Jr. rush for no gain.
2 and 10 - CLE 43 3:17 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 4 yards.
3 and 6 - CLE 47 2:35 15-J. Flacco pass to 27-K. Hunt for -1 yard.
4 and 7 - CLE 46 1:58 13-C. Bojorquez punts 46 yards, fair catch by 2-R. Woods. PENALTY on Cleveland, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at CLE 46 - No play.
4 and 17 - CLE 36 1:50 13-C. Bojorquez punts 47 yards, 2-R. Woods returns for 3 yards.
1Q 1:42 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 20 1:42 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 47-A. Beck. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 20 - No play.
1 and 10 - HOU 25 1:37 26-D. Singletary rush for 16 yards, fumble by 26-D. Singletary (forced fumble by 37-D. Bell), RECOVERED by 26-D. Singletary returned for no gain.
1 and 10 - HOU 42 1:07 26-D. Singletary rush for no gain.
2 and 10 - HOU 42 0:28 18-C. Keenum pass to 26-D. Singletary for 2 yards. PENALTY on Houston, Offensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 42 - No play.
END QUARTER 1
2nd Quarter
Houston continued...
2 and 15 - HOU 37 15:00 18-C. Keenum pass to 86-D. Schultz for 4 yards.
3 and 11 - HOU 41 14:22 18-C. Keenum pass to 12-N. Collins for 7 yards.
4 and 4 - HOU 48 13:43 11-C. Johnston punts 42 yards, fair catch by 11-J. Proche II.
2Q 13:36 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 10 13:36 34-J. Ford rush for 5 yards.
2 and 5 - CLE 15 12:55 34-J. Ford rush for 10 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 25 12:16 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on Houston, Defensive Pass Interference (declined).
7-D. Hopkins extra point is GOOD.
CLE 14    HOU 0    Plays: 3    Possession: 1:32
2Q 12:04 Houston
CLE 35 7-D. Hopkins kicks 63 yards, 31-D. Pierce returns for 98 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15-K. Fairbairn extra point is GOOD.
CLE 14    HOU 7    Plays: 0    Possession: 0:13
2Q 11:51 Cleveland
HOU 35 15-K. Fairbairn kicks 65 yards, touchback.
1 and 10 - CLE 25 11:51 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 85-D. Njoku.
2 and 10 - CLE 25 11:47 15-J. Flacco pass to 27-K. Hunt for 9 yards. PENALTY on Cleveland, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at CLE 25 - No play.
2 and 20 - CLE 15 11:20 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 85-D. Njoku.
3 and 20 - CLE 15 11:15 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 6 yards.
4 and 14 - CLE 21 10:31 13-C. Bojorquez punts 46 yards, fair catch by 2-R. Woods.
2Q 10:23 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 33 10:23 26-D. Singletary rush for -1 yard.
2 and 11 - HOU 32 9:47 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 12-N. Collins.
3 and 11 - HOU 32 9:44 18-C. Keenum, sacked for 14 yards (99-Z. Smith). PENALTY on Cleveland, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 32 - No play.
1 and 10 - HOU 37 9:14 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 19-X. Hutchinson. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 37 - No play.
1 and 5 - HOU 42 9:08 31-D. Pierce rush for 7 yards, forced out of bounds. PENALTY on Houston, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at HOU 46.
1 and 11 - HOU 36 8:40 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 2-R. Woods.
2 and 11 - HOU 36 8:36 31-D. Pierce rush for 3 yards.
3 and 8 - HOU 39 7:57 18-C. Keenum, sacked for 13 yards (99-Z. Smith).
4 and 21 - HOU 26 7:16 11-C. Johnston punts 34 yards, downed by 43-N. Hewitt. PENALTY on Houston, Illegal Bat, 10 yards, enforced at CLE 40.
2Q 7:07 Cleveland
1 and 10 - 50 7:07 34-J. Ford rush for no gain.
2 and 10 - 50 6:31 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 2-A. Cooper.
3 and 10 - 50 6:23 15-J. Flacco pass to 8-E. Moore for 18 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 32 5:38 15-J. Flacco pass to 84-J. Akins for 13 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 19 4:58 34-J. Ford rush for -2 yards.
2 and 12 - HOU 21 4:21 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17-D. Thompson-Robinson rush for 2 yards, 2pt conversion SUCCEEDS.
CLE 22    HOU 7    Plays: 6    Possession: 2:51
2Q 4:16 Houston
CLE 35 13-C. Bojorquez kicks 57 yards, 31-D. Pierce returns for 24 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 32 4:09 2-R. Woods rush for 7 yards, forced out of bounds.
2 and 3 - HOU 39 3:33 18-C. Keenum, sacked for 10 yards (91-A. Wright).
3 and 13 - HOU 29 2:50 33-D. Ogunbowale rush for 6 yards.
4 and 7 - HOU 35 2:08 11-C. Johnston punts 52 yards, 11-J. Proche II returns for 6 yards. PENALTY on Houston, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at CLE 19.
2Q 1:58 Cleveland
Two minute warning
1 and 10 - CLE 34 1:58 34-J. Ford rush for 2 yards.
2 and 8 - CLE 36 1:39 15-J. Flacco pass intended for 3-M. Goodwin, INTERCEPTED by 30-D. Houston-Carson at HOU 16, returned for no gain, ran out of bounds.
2Q 1:30 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 16 1:30 18-C. Keenum pass to 26-D. Singletary for 8 yards, forced out of bounds.
2 and 2 - HOU 24 1:24 26-D. Singletary rush for 1 yard.
3 and 1 - HOU 25 0:55 18-C. Keenum pass to 12-N. Collins for 4 yards.
Cleveland timeout at 0:41
1 and 10 - HOU 29 0:41 18-C. Keenum pass to 86-D. Schultz for 6 yards.
Houston timeout at 0:37
2 and 4 - HOU 35 0:37 18-C. Keenum pass to 86-D. Schultz for 6 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 41 0:29 18-C. Keenum pass intended for 86-D. Schultz, INTERCEPTED by 6-J. Owusu-Koramoah at HOU 49, returned for 8 yards.
2Q 0:23 Cleveland
1 and 10 - HOU 41 0:23 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 23 yards.
Cleveland timeout at 0:15
1 and 10 - HOU 18 0:15 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 2-A. Cooper.
2 and 10 - HOU 18 0:11 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete.
Houston timeout at 0:05
3 and 10 - HOU 18 0:05 15-J. Flacco pass intended for 2-A. Cooper, INTERCEPTED by 24-D. Stingley Jr. at HOU -5, returned for no gain, touchback.
2Q 0:00 Houston
END QUARTER 2
3rd Quarter
3Q 15:00 Houston
CLE 35 13-C. Bojorquez kicks 56 yards, 31-D. Pierce returns for 24 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 33 14:53 26-D. Singletary rush for 17 yards.
1 and 10 - 50 14:18 18-C. Keenum, sacked for 10 yards (99-Z. Smith).
2 and 20 - HOU 40 13:36 18-C. Keenum pass to 86-D. Schultz for 8 yards, forced out of bounds.
3 and 12 - HOU 48 12:58 18-C. Keenum pass to 86-D. Schultz for 6 yards, forced out of bounds.
4 and 6 - CLE 46 12:20 11-C. Johnston punts 40 yards, fair catch by 11-J. Proche II.
3Q 12:14 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 6 12:14 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 4 yards.
2 and 6 - CLE 10 11:35 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 5 yards.
3 and 1 - CLE 15 10:52 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 8 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 23 10:16 20-P. Strong Jr. rush for 8 yards.
2 and 2 - CLE 31 9:36 15-J. Flacco pass to 85-D. Njoku for 4 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 35 8:55 15-J. Flacco pass to 84-J. Akins for 5 yards.
2 and 5 - CLE 40 8:15 27-K. Hunt rush for 2 yards.
3 and 3 - CLE 42 7:43 15-J. Flacco pass to 27-K. Hunt for 6 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - CLE 48 7:10 34-J. Ford rush for 1 yard.
2 and 9 - CLE 49 6:32 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 19 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 32 5:51 34-J. Ford rush for 7 yards.
2 and 3 - HOU 25 5:10 34-J. Ford rush for -5 yards.
3 and 8 - HOU 30 4:34 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 27-K. Hunt.
4 and 8 - HOU 30 4:30 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 13 yards, ran out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 17 4:09 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 2-A. Cooper. PENALTY on Houston, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 17 - No play.
1 and 5 - HOU 12 4:03 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 8-E. Moore.
2 and 5 - HOU 12 3:58 Direct snap to 27-K. Hunt, 27-K. Hunt rush for 3 yards.
3 and 2 - HOU 9 3:19 15-J. Flacco rush for 2 yards.
1 and goal - HOU 7 2:39 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Rush by 34-J. Ford, 2pt Conversion FAILS.
CLE 28    HOU 7    Plays: 18    Possession: 9:39
3Q 2:35 Houston
CLE 35 13-C. Bojorquez kicks 53 yards, 31-D. Pierce returns for 9 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 21 2:29 26-D. Singletary rush for 2 yards.
2 and 8 - HOU 23 1:52 18-C. Keenum pass incomplete to 8-J. Metchie III.
3 and 8 - HOU 23 1:47 18-C. Keenum pass intended for 12-N. Collins, INTERCEPTED by 30-D. Harmon at CLE 48, returned for 1 yard.
3Q 1:37 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 49 1:37 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 21 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 30 0:54 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 8-E. Moore.
2 and 10 - HOU 30 0:49 20-P. Strong Jr. rush for 4 yards.
3 and 6 - HOU 26 0:07 27-K. Hunt rush for 1 yard.
END QUARTER 3
4th Quarter
Cleveland continued...
4 and 5 - HOU 25 15:00 15-J. Flacco pass to 19-C. Tillman for 7 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 18 14:21 27-K. Hunt rush for 4 yards.
2 and 6 - HOU 14 13:46 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 18-D. Bell.
3 and 6 - HOU 14 13:42 15-J. Flacco pass to 8-E. Moore for 1 yard.
4 and 5 - HOU 13 12:56 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 11 yards, forced out of bounds. PENALTY on Houston, Unnecessary Roughness, 1 yards, enforced at HOU 2.
1 and goal - HOU 1 12:38 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 85-D. Njoku. PENALTY on Houston, Defensive Pass Interference, 0 yards, enforced at HOU 1 - No play.
1 and goal - HOU 1 12:34 27-K. Hunt rush for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 2 yards, 2pt conversion SUCCEEDS.
CLE 36    HOU 7    Plays: 10    Possession: 4:06
4Q 12:31 Houston
CLE 35 37-D. Bell kicks 42 yards, 47-A. Beck returns for 9 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 32 12:24 10-D. Mills pass to 86-D. Schultz for 7 yards.
2 and 3 - HOU 39 12:02 10-D. Mills pass to 2-R. Woods for 2 yards.
3 and 1 - HOU 41 11:39 31-D. Pierce rush for -1 yard.
4 and 2 - HOU 40 11:02 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 2-R. Woods.
4Q 10:57 Cleveland
1 and 10 - HOU 40 10:57 20-P. Strong Jr. rush for 6 yards.
2 and 4 - HOU 34 10:20 17-D. Thompson-Robinson pass to 18-D. Bell for 6 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 28 9:39 17-D. Thompson-Robinson rush for -5 yards.
2 and 15 - HOU 33 8:58 20-P. Strong Jr. rush for 4 yards.
3 and 11 - HOU 29 8:15 17-D. Thompson-Robinson pass incomplete to 20-P. Strong Jr..
4 and 11 - HOU 29 8:11 17-D. Thompson-Robinson, sacked for 10 yards (55-J. Hughes).
4Q 8:06 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 39 8:06 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 85-N. Brown.
2 and 10 - HOU 39 8:02 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 2-R. Woods.
3 and 10 - HOU 39 7:58 10-D. Mills pass to 85-N. Brown for 10 yards, forced out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 49 7:30 10-D. Mills pass to 85-N. Brown for 16 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 35 7:08 10-D. Mills pass to 19-X. Hutchinson for 18 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 17 6:45 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 85-N. Brown.
2 and 10 - CLE 17 6:40 10-D. Mills pass to 2-R. Woods for 12 yards.
1 and goal - CLE 5 6:18 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 8-J. Metchie III.
2 and goal - CLE 5 6:15 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 8-J. Metchie III.
3 and goal - CLE 5 6:11 10-D. Mills pass to 12-N. Collins for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10-D. Mills pass to 12-N. Collins for 2 yards, 2pt conversion SUCCEEDS. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
HOU 40 6:08 15-K. Fairbairn kicks onside 7 yards, RECOVERED by 5-J. Pitre returned for no gain.
1 and 10 - HOU 47 6:07 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 86-D. Schultz.
2 and 10 - HOU 47 6:04 10-D. Mills pass incomplete.
3 and 10 - HOU 47 6:01 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 19-X. Hutchinson.
4 and 10 - HOU 47 5:57 10-D. Mills pass to 86-D. Schultz for 14 yards.
Injury timeout at 5:48
1 and 10 - CLE 39 5:33 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 31-D. Pierce.
2 and 10 - CLE 39 5:28 10-D. Mills pass to 31-D. Pierce for 10 yards.
1 and 10 - CLE 29 5:01 10-D. Mills pass to 9-B. Jordan for 19 yards.
1 and goal - CLE 10 4:39 10-D. Mills rush for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN (nullified). Official challenged the ruling, and the play was REVERSED, 10-D. Mills rush for 9 yards.
2 and goal - CLE 1 4:15 10-D. Mills pass to 47-A. Beck for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15-K. Fairbairn extra point is GOOD.
HOU 35 4:12 15-K. Fairbairn kicks onside 9 yards, 11-J. Proche II returns for no gain.
CLE 36    HOU 22    Plays: 19    Possession: 3:54
4Q 4:10 Cleveland
1 and 10 - HOU 44 4:10 27-K. Hunt rush for no gain. PENALTY on Houston, Face Mask, 15 yards, enforced at HOU 44 - No play.
1 and 10 - HOU 29 4:06 34-J. Ford rush for 3 yards.
Houston timeout at 3:59
2 and 7 - HOU 26 3:59 15-J. Flacco pass incomplete to 2-A. Cooper.
3 and 7 - HOU 26 3:54 34-J. Ford rush for no gain.
Houston timeout at 3:49
4 and 7 - HOU 26 3:49 15-J. Flacco pass to 2-A. Cooper for 13 yards, ran out of bounds.
1 and 10 - HOU 13 3:44 27-K. Hunt rush for -2 yards.
Houston timeout at 3:40
Cleveland timeout at 3:40
2 and 12 - HOU 15 3:40 34-J. Ford rush for 3 yards.
3 and 9 - HOU 12 2:55 34-J. Ford rush for -3 yards.
4 and 12 - HOU 15 2:11 15-J. Flacco pass to 34-J. Ford for -2 yards.
4Q 2:06 Houston
1 and 10 - HOU 17 2:06 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 33-D. Ogunbowale.
2 and 10 - HOU 17 2:01 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 33-D. Ogunbowale.
Two minute warning
3 and 10 - HOU 17 1:57 10-D. Mills pass to 85-N. Brown for 12 yards.
1 and 10 - HOU 29 1:35 10-D. Mills pass to 9-B. Jordan for 8 yards.
2 and 2 - HOU 37 1:18 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 85-N. Brown.
3 and 2 - HOU 37 1:14 10-D. Mills pass to 86-D. Schultz for 10 yards.
Cleveland timeout at 0:53
1 and 10 - HOU 47 0:53 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 2-R. Woods.
2 and 10 - HOU 47 0:47 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 85-N. Brown.
3 and 10 - HOU 47 0:42 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 86-D. Schultz.
4 and 10 - HOU 47 0:38 10-D. Mills pass to 86-D. Schultz for 5 yards. PENALTY on Cleveland, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at HOU 47 - No play.
4 and 5 - CLE 48 0:32 10-D. Mills pass incomplete to 9-B. Jordan.
4Q 0:24 Cleveland
1 and 10 - CLE 49 0:24 15-J. Flacco kneels for -1 yard.
END OF GAME