There is a lot of chatter about how disappointing QB Deshaun Watson has been so far in Cleveland. Watson has a lot of pressure, especially with Nick Chubb being out for the year. The Titans do have a suspect pass defense and he has a history of doing well against Tennessee, so maybe this will eventually be the game he goes off.
In past seasons, the Browns would have no shot of stopping an elite running back like Derrick Henry but the 2023 Cleveland Browns have a different mojo. Last week, the Browns held the Steelers to only 55 yards rushing.
If defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz gets another stellar defensive performance and slows down Henry, the sky is the limit for this 2023 Browns defense.
Outside of WR Amari Cooper, it has been a quiet start for the Browns talented receivers. Barely a peep out of Elijah Moore or Donovan Peoples-Jones. It would be great to see Watson and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski get some of the talented receivers into action on Sunday.
This game is simple to me with the Titans, don’t let Derrick Henry get loose for a big day and the Browns should win easily. The defense is so good that it can carry the team this week. Hopefully, Deshaun Watson gets going, and maybe we will get to see a little RB Kareem Hunt on Sunday, but the offense just can’t turn the ball over like they have been the first two weeks. Allow the defense to rule the day!
The Cleveland Browns faced a challenging second week on multiple fronts, with the most significant setback being the devastating injury to Nick Chubb. The star running back is now sidelined for the entire season due to a knee injury sustained during their recent Monday night clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The season kicked off on a high note, as they delivered a commanding 24-3 victory at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, covering the one-point spread. However, their fortunes took a turn last week when they narrowly lost 26-22 on the road to the Steelers, despite being slight two-point favorites. The team now faces the daunting task of rallying together in the absence of Chubb.
Deshaun Watson’s performance has been less than stellar, with a subpar outing in the season opener and continued struggles last week. He has accumulated 235 passing yards, completing only 55% of his passes, with one touchdown and one interception. Currently, the veteran quarterback has amassed 389 passing yards and holds a 2:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Browns’ management is hopeful that he can recapture the form he displayed during his prime years with the Texans.
With Chubb sidelined, Jerome Ford is expected to shoulder the majority of the rushing duties. Ford showcased his talent last week, amassing 106 rushing yards and averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per carry. Benefiting from a strong offensive line, the 24-year-old Ford, who has limited experience, has already racked up 142 yards in just two games. The Browns recently signed Kareem Hunt, who will serve as the backup running back.
Amari Cooper assumes a pivotal role in this scenario, as generating yards on the ground could prove challenging. It’s anticipated that Cooper will be heavily targeted, especially against a struggling pass defense. The star wide receiver posted 90 receiving yards in the game against Pittsburgh and has accumulated 127 receiving yards this season. Although Cooper had limited participation in Thursday’s practice, he is expected to take the field. The Cleveland offense will need to innovate and adapt without Chubb, putting added pressure on Watson.
The Browns’ defense is a formidable unit, evidenced by their ability to limit the Bengals to a mere 142 total yards and the Browns to 255 yards. If they can avoid injuries, this unit is poised to rank among the league’s top defenses in various statistical categories throughout the season. After two outings, they currently stand third in pass defense and fifth against the run, with four sacks to their name, one of which was recorded by Myles Garrett.
In terms of last season’s performance, Cleveland averaged 21.2 points per game, placing them 18th in the league, while their defense held opponents to 22.4 points per game, positioning them 20th.
Entering this game, the Tennessee Titans exude confidence despite a disappointing start to their season. In week one, they suffered a narrow 16-15 road loss to the Saints, where they were considered three-point underdogs. However, the team bounced back with an impressive 27-24 overtime victory at home against the Chargers last week, once again being labeled as three-point underdogs. The Titans are determined to recover from their lackluster performance in 2022 when they managed to secure just seven wins.
Ryan Tannehill, who had a challenging start to the season, completing only 47% of his passes and throwing three interceptions, showcased a remarkable turnaround against the Chargers. The 35-year-old veteran delivered an outstanding performance with 246 passing yards and one touchdown. So far this season, he has accumulated 444 passing yards but with a less favorable 1:3 touchdown to interception ratio.
The Titans rely heavily on their running game, with Derrick Henry standing as one of the NFL’s premier running backs for several years. The 29-year-old rusher amassed an impressive 1,500 rushing yards last season and continued his strong form with 80 rushing yards in the previous game, bringing his total to 143 yards for the season. De’Andre Hopkins, in his debut season with the Titans, has also made a significant impact. The 31-year-old wide receiver, who recorded 717 receiving yards in nine games last year, has already amassed 105 yards in just two games. He may face off against Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. While Henry was limited in practice on Thursday, he is expected to play. The Titans’ offensive potential is promising, provided they can maintain good health, as Tannehill’s absence for five games last season significantly contributed to their playoff miss.
The Titans’ defensive unit has emerged as their strongest asset after two games. Although they encountered some difficulties against Carr and the Saints in the season opener, they effectively contained Herbert and the Chargers, allowing only 342 total yards. Their pass defense has struggled early, ranking 28th, while their rush defense stands strong at fourth. Notably, their pass rush has been effective, amassing seven sacks. The team boasts a young secondary, particularly among their cornerbacks.
In terms of scoring, the Titans averaged a mere 17.5 points per game last season, ranking them 28th in the league. However, they fared better on the defensive side, conceding an average of 21.1 points per game, placing them 15th in the NFL.
The Tennessee Titans, with a record of 1-1 in their first two games, have not shown strong performances so far. On the other hand, the Cleveland Browns had a dominant victory against the Bengals in their season opener but suffered a devastating loss to Pittsburgh. Notably, they are missing Nick Chubb, but Jereme Ford managed an impressive 106 rushing yards with an average of 6.6 yards per carry in their recent game against Pittsburgh.
Adding to the challenge for the Titans is their heavy reliance on Derrick Henry and the running game, which may face difficulties against the Browns’ formidable rush defense, ranking among the top five in the NFL. Their rush defense demonstrated its strength by containing Najee Harris and the Steelers in the previous week.
The Titans also face concerns in their pass defense, as it was exploited by Carr in their season opener and by Herbert in the last game. Currently, they are ranked 28th in pass defense, which suggests that Deshaun Watson might target Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore heavily in the upcoming matchup.
In contrast, the Browns boast one of the NFL’s strongest defensive units, having allowed only 142 and 255 total yards in their first two games, respectively.
After a great week one, the odd game in Pittsburgh really threw off the record. Nick Chubb needed just 14 more yards after his early second-quarter injury, and Allen Robinson needed one catch in the final three quarters. Sometimes, bad luck ruins picks in betting, and you just need to take the losses and move on. Not every pick is going to be a winner, sadly, but the reasoning behind every pick always will be. Here are two bets to get back on track for Browns vs. Titans.
Coming off a 10-target, 90-yard game in a matchup where he was questionable, Deshaun Watson showcased the connection between him and Amari Cooper. He has exceeded this yardage mark in one out of two games this year, in addition to achieving it in 59% of games in 2022. The most significant difference, however, is that this will be his first game without Chubb. The weather in downtown Cleveland is projected to be warm and sunny, making it an ideal day to rely on the passing attack to secure a victory.
Cooper is currently averaging nearly two yards per route run, with an average target depth of 13.7 yards. The Titans’ secondary has struggled in 2023, allowing an average of 290.3 receiving yards per game, the worst in the NFL. Since the beginning of 2022, they rank 29th in passing EPA/play, and they have surrendered the fourth-highest number of yards to wide receivers in the first two weeks of the season. Most of Cooper’s missed opportunities last year and in week one were due to adverse weather conditions. However, that won’t be the case in this game, and the Browns will rely on him and Watson to excel in the passing game to secure a victory.
Through two games, Jerome Ford has carried the ball 15 times against the Bengals and 16 times against the Steelers. With Chubb unavailable, the Browns brought back a familiar face in Kareem Hunt. Kevin Stefanski reiterated after the signing that Ford will be the lead back moving forward, and I expect Hunt to primarily be used in passing situations and possibly for some goal-line work.
Stefanski’s coaching style has always been centered around controlling the game with a strong ground game, but that won’t be as straightforward without Chubb. However, Ford was already shouldering a significant workload even before Chubb’s absence, and he has performed admirably. Ford currently ranks seventh in rushing yards over expected per attempt, trailing notable names like Chubb, Ekeler, McCaffery, and Bijan Robinson. While the Titans’ run defense has been formidable in recent history, Ford is expected to receive 13 carries as long as the Browns can remain competitive throughout the game. In the event that the Browns are protecting a lead, Ford might even see 13 rushing attempts in the second half alone.
It’s a great opportunity to rid ourselves of that bad taste from week two and move forward with the season. The passing game is in dire need of a boost, and the favorable weather at home against the Titans provides an excellent chance to do just that. I anticipate the Browns will heavily rely on their defense early and often, but the offensive line faces a significant challenge in stepping up and carrying the load in the running game. The Titans are a solid team, and Mike Vrabel’s adept game management keeps them in contention throughout the entire game. Protecting the ball is the biggest key in this game, as in any game, because if the Browns can keep their defense in advantageous positions, they should emerge victorious.
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