HOUSTON — Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Some claim that is the definition of insanity. In truth, it is the story of the Browns’ season. Lose the ball on offense, get trampled on defense, fall behind on the scoreboard.

Turnover, touchdown, ballgame.

A week ago in San Francisco, it took two plays for the Browns to dig their grave. On Sunday in Reliant Stadium, it took one — a fumble by running back Chris Ogbonnaya, making his first NFL start in his hometown.

The Houston Texans had 14 points before the Browns ran their second offensive play. The rest of the game was typically ugly, painful and insulting to anyone still clinging to the hope that the Browns would turn a corner this season. They are stuck in a revolving door, unable to escape from the throes of ineptitude.

Their 30-12 loss to Houston — a team missing its best player on offense and best on defense — dropped the Browns to 3-5. In the process, they rang up more names on their bulging injury list.

“I don’t want to say we’re at a crossroads, but this is a point where you can go one of two ways — pack it in and fold or keep trying to get better,” said linebacker Scott Fujita. “And defensively we can’t afford to take a step back.”

For weeks, defense was the Browns’ only hope of staying competitive. We saw on Sunday what happens when that unit fails them. Utter hopelessness.

Houston’s famed zone-blocking scheme opened the holes and backs Arian Foster (124 yards, one touchdown) and Ben Tate (115 and one) cut back and through and over the Browns’ defense like nobody was there. Frequently, there wasn’t.

“That zone scheme is tough and they run it to perfection,” said tackle Phil Taylor.

“I’ve had my [butt] kicked before, but that was one of those that will take a few days to get over,” Fujita said.

Houston is so strong that it doesn’t need Lawrence Vickers lead-blocking like a cement mixer to spring all its runs. But the former Browns fullback had one series in the second quarter that was sheer delight to him. He threw the lead block on Foster’s 19-yard touchdown run.

“Regardless of it was Cleveland or not, I still feel the same way because it was a win,” Vickers said, pointing to his new team’s 6-3 record. “But I do feel a little bit better it was [against] the Browns.”

Quarterback Matt Schaub added a two-yard touchdown run and enjoyed the type of game with which Colt McCoy, his beleaguered counterpart, is not familiar. Schaub was hardly touched and hardly needed to exercise his arm. For the record, he was 14-of-23 for 119 yards and was intercepted once for a mundane passer rating of 56.2. Ah, statistics.

McCoy, on the other hand, played the role of pinata in his first NFL game in his home state. Playing from behind from the start resulted in a predictable array of blitzes, pressures, and hits to various body parts. McCoy was sacked four times and unofficially hit on eight other occasions. Two of the sacks were registered by Houston rookie linebacker Brooks Reed, a Clay Matthews III lookalike who played like him on Sunday.

“Today was kind of a weird experience,” Reed said. “They were setting me free a lot off the edge and I don’t know if it was just [the Browns'] protection scheme or the crowd noise, but that was fun. I did miss a couple of opportunities ’cause I couldn’t believe that they weren’t blocking me.”

Reed’s loudest hit came on the Browns’ only touchdown drive late in the game. He de-cleated McCoy just as the ball was leaving the QB’s hand. McCoy was writhing in pain and didn’t see the outcome — Greg Little outleaping cornerback Kareem Jackson for the ball at the Texans’ 5.

“I felt that one pretty good,” McCoy said. “I got the breath knocked out of me.”

McCoy gingerly got up, caught his breath and completed the drive, throwing two yards to Josh Cribbs in the end zone on a fake-and-roll two plays later. McCoy’s pass on the two-point try was intercepted.

“We had the wrong formation on the two-point play,” McCoy sighed. “Again, when you work on something all week and you feel comfortable with it and are ready for it and you go into the game working all these situations and then you’re down 14 at the beginning of the game, it is hard to get back up.”

The rest of the Browns’ points came on field goals of 50 and 51 yards by Phil Dawson.

Ogbonnaya was distraught with his turnover that triggered the latest avalanche in another Browns’ burial. He’s the fourth in line toting the ball for the Browns after injuries to Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson. He rushed 13 times for 28 yards. Thomas Clayton, back No. 5, had five carries for 10 yards.

Ogbonnaya was added 19 days ago. Clayton hopped on this train five days ago.

“When you are one week into things and Chris is two weeks into things, you are seeing a lot of different stuff and they were able to create a lot of pressure up front,” McCoy said. “At times it’s hard. It’s hard to overcome.”

As much beating as McCoy would take, he hurled his body to knock safety Quintin Demps out of bounds after an interception, saving a touchdown right before the first half ended. But guard Shawn Lauvao’s roughness penalty for apparently head-butting linebacker Brian Cushing advanced the ball another 10 yards, supplying Houston a gimme field goal.

“Guys are disappointed and frustrated,” Fujita said. “Sometimes guys made some mistakes because they were frustrated, doing stupid things after the whistle. We’ve got to be smarter than that.”

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

HOUSTON — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• So far, ironman Chris Ogbannaya has played every offensive snap for Browns.

• Emmanuel Stephens makes a tackle for Browns. He’s the backup left end.

• Matt Schaub hangs in vs. D’Qwell Jackson blitz and connects with Owen Daniels for 12 yards. Big-time QB play.

• Behind a monster block by Lawrence Vickers on Scott Fujita, Arian Foster runs 19 yards for a touchdown. Seven plays, 71 yards.

• Thomas Clayton relieves Ogbannaya and runs for 4. Colt McCoy is later hit as he throws on blitz by Quintin Demps. Painful to watch.

• Jacoby Jones breaks a punt return to the left for 50 yards.

• Finally, a Browns defensive turnover. Mike Adams’ big hit deflects Matt Schaub pass for Owen Daniels and D’Qwell Jackson intercepts. Browns take over at their 42.

• Facing fourth-and-2 at the 50, Browns call time after letting clock run down to 1:06. Then a first down on Evan Moore 6-yard catch.

• McCoy is intercepted by Demps. Looks like a Pick 6, but McCoy makes a TD-saving tackle at the Browns’ 23. Unnecessary roughness call on Shawn Lauvao moves ball to Browns 10 with :02 left. Texans kick field goal for 24-3 lead.

HOUSTON — The Browns thought they had good depth at running back this year. Well, today they go into their game against the Houston Texans with a tandem of Chris Ogbannaya and Thomas Clayton.

Regular backs Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and Montario Hardesty (calf) did not even make the trip. Brandon Jackson, who was supposed to be the third-down back when camp opened, has been out for the year following surgery on a turf toe injury suffered in training camp.

Other Browns inactives today: quarterback Thad Lewis, cornerback Dimitri Patterson (knee), safety Ray Ventrone, center Steve Vallos and defensive end Auston English.

Rookie Buster Skrine will play the slot receiver for Patterson in the nickel defense.

The good news for the Browns is that the prolific Texans offense will be without Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring).

Other Houston inactives: quarterback T.J. Yates, cornerback Brandon Harris, safety Danieal Manning, guard Thomas Austin, guard Andrew Gardner and tight end Garrett Graham.

Jacoby Jones will start for Johnson at wide receiver and Troy Nolan will start for Manning.

The Texans also made a point of listing ex-Brown Lawrence Vickers as the starting fullback ahead of James Casey.

Fullback Lawrence Vickers is excited to play against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Vickers, now with the Houston Texans, says he’s “geeked up” and very excited to play against his old team.

Vickers was one of the keys to the Browns’ rushing game last season with his punishing blocks. He led the way for Peyton Hillis last season. But the Browns decided to draft Owen Marecic instead of signing Vickers.

Do the Browns miss Vickers?

How much do the Browns miss Lawrence Vickers?

BEREA, Ohio (AP)—One healthy Peyton will be on the field this Sunday in
Indianapolis and he’ll never be confused with the quarterback.

Peyton Hillis’(notes) neck is healthy. He’s hoping the Cleveland Browns test his
shoulders.

Unable to establish a running game last week in a season-opening loss to
Cincinnati, the Browns may rely on massive doses of Hillis against the Peyton
Manning(notes)-less Colts, a team that has won despite ignoring run defense for years
and will be missing starting middle linebacker Gary Brackett(notes), who is sidelined
with a shoulder injury.

“We have to do what we do best,” Hillis said.

Last year, the best thing the Browns did was to hand the ball off to Hillis,
who had 270 carries for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. His breakout season
helped Hillis earn the cover of the Madden 12 video game, and it convinced the
club to sign the 25-year-old to a multiyear contract extension, a deal they’re
still working on.

If Cleveland’s gameplan last week was to give it to Hillis, it went out the
window when the Bengals jumped out to a 13-0 lead. The Browns were forced to
play catch-up through the air, and then had to pass almost exclusively when they
trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Hillis finished with just 57 yards on 17 carries. The workhorse would like
more work.

“Everybody wants the ball more,” Hillis said this week. “The thing about
it is, the game dictates it a lot and when you get down in the fourth quarter
you have to throw the ball a lot more. For us as an offense, and for us as a
team, we’ve got to stay in those second- and third-and-short areas.”

The Browns are hoping to follow Houston’s path to victory over the Colts.

The Texas got ahead early and pounded the ball down Indy’s throat. Houston
rushed 37 times for 167 yards last week, controlling the clock en route to a
34-7 blowout win.

Cleveland’s hopes of rebounding from a gut-wrenching loss and evening its
record could hinge on kick-starting its running game. The Browns will have to do
so behind a revamped offensive line missing two starters and using a two-man
rotation at right tackle.

Tony Pashos(notes) will miss his second straight game at right tackle with an ankle
injury that coach Pat Shurmur said could keep the veteran out for weeks. Artis
Hicks(notes) will likely start at right tackle with Oneil Cousins coming off the bench
in spot duty. Cleveland is already starting rookie Jason Pinkston(notes) at left guard
for Eric Steinbach(notes), out for the season following back surgery. On the right
side, Shawn Lavauo will be making his third career start at guard.

It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s the hand the Browns have been dealt.

In recent years, the Colts have been vulnerable to the run—perhaps by
design.

Indianapolis has been ranked No. 25, 24 and 24 in rushing defense the past
three seasons yet have managed to win 36 games. They are the only team in league
history to finish dead last in that category and make the Super Bowl.

The Colts’ defensive specialty is to turn ends Dwight Freeney(notes) and Robert
Mathis(notes) loose.

“They’re special guys,” Hicks said. “Give them a chance to pin their ears
back and get after that quarterback, and it can be a nightmare. We have to try
to be successful on first and second downs and keep ourselves out of those
Freeney and Mathis killer downs, which is third and long. They can pin their
ears back.”

Shurmur’s West Coast offense favors the pass, but that doesn’t mean he’s
opposed to grounding it out.

“I believe in running the football,” he said. “I think it’s important we
do it and I feel we’ve got backs that can carry it.”

Montario Hardesty(notes) looked to be beyond his knee problems last weeks, showing
some nice flashes while picking up 18 yards on six carries in his NFL debut. The
Browns are confident Hardesty is healthy and believe he can be an effective
change of pace to Hillis—or paired with him.

“It’s important they both get their touches,” Shurmur said. “Peyton is
our starting runner and you’d like to make sure he gets the football a bunch of
times. Montario did some good things for his first real stretch back. Each day,
he looks better and better running. He’s getting more and more comfortable with
his leg and his body every day.”

Hillis is as healthy as ever.

He’s still adjusting to running behind rookie fullback Owen Marecic(notes), who
replaced Lawrence Vickers(notes), and an offensive line with several new faces. Hillis
believes he and the Browns are close to hitting their stride.

“There’s a little bit of a rhythm just getting started again in the first
couple of games in the season,” he said. “Things are going to get back and I’m
really not worried about it. It just takes a little time.”