Clear edgeHOU
Houston Texans
79.6PFM Team Score#16 NFL
VS
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Houston Texans higher than the Cleveland Browns overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the steadier quarterback room and the clearer long-term football direction.
Current PFM Team Scores
CLE
Cleveland Browns
72.5PFM Team Score#30 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Houston Texans Higher
The Houston Texans ask fewer questions at quarterback because C.J. Stroud sets the floor of the offense. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script. Cleveland's strongest counterargument is Defense. The Cleveland Browns own the stronger defense. More dependable stops give the offense better field position and keep one bad drive from controlling the day.
Houston also brings the clearer long-term football direction. Houston adds the more dependable offense. That is enough to keep the Houston Texans ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Houston vs. Cleveland Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
HOUHouston Texans
CLECleveland Browns
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Cleveland Browns’ Best Argument
The Browns can lean on their defense more than the Texans can. That creates a better floor when the offense stalls or field position turns against the team. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Houston still answers with the steadier quarterback room and the clearer long-term football direction, which keeps the overall judgment in place.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
HOU79.6
Houston Texans 79.6CLE72.5
Cleveland Browns 72.5Overall NFL Rank
HOU#16
Houston Texans #16CLE#30
Cleveland Browns #30QB Stability
HOU82.1
Houston Texans 82.1CLE67.8
Cleveland Browns 67.8Roster Strength
HOU78.8
Houston Texans 78.8CLE75.6
Cleveland Browns 75.6Coaching Direction
HOU80.7
Houston Texans 80.7CLE73.3
Cleveland Browns 73.3Recent Performance
HOU73.8
Houston Texans 73.8CLE73.6
Cleveland Browns 73.6Offense
HOU81.4
Houston Texans 81.4CLE71.9
Cleveland Browns 71.9Defense
HOU79.6
Houston Texans 79.6CLE82.5
Cleveland Browns 82.5Franchise Direction
HOU79.9
Houston Texans 79.9CLE69.5
Cleveland Browns 69.5Explosiveness
HOU81.2
Houston Texans 81.2CLE75.6
Cleveland Browns 75.6Conference Rank
HOU#9
Houston Texans #9CLE#14
Cleveland Browns #14Division Rank
HOU#2
Houston Texans #2CLE#4
Cleveland Browns #4Outlook
HOUIn the Playoff MixCLEPlayoff Long Shot
Stronger outlook: Houston TexansSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Houston Texans
Remaining schedule rank: #29
Toughest stretch: Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strongest opponents: Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Next five difficulty: 76.7
View Houston Texans Road AheadCleveland Browns
Remaining schedule rank: #27
Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals
Strongest opponents: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans
Next five difficulty: 77.5
View Cleveland Browns Road AheadCleveland has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 27. The strongest opponents include Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and the Houston Texans. Houston also has the more favorable road, which adds to the steadier quarterback room and the clearer long-term football direction.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated November 3, 2026. Schedule data updated November 9, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams