CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns kick off the first of three straight games at home Sunday against the Tennessee Titans in a battle of 1-1 teams.
Here’s what we are watching for Sunday afternoon at 1.
The loss of four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb for the season hung over the team all week with players vowing to play for and follow the example set by Chubb. The primary carries shift to 2022 fifth-round pick Jerome Ford, who ran for 106 yards and caught a touchdown in the 26-22 loss to the Steelers. Kareem Hunt is back with the Browns after signing Wednesday. Hunt, who averaged 3.8 yards per carry last season, is expected to play against the Titans and be the No. 2 back going forward.
All eyes are on Deshaun Watson with the security blanket of Chubb carrying the offense on the ground no longer available. Watson continues to underwhelm considering his $230 million contract and the six draft picks he cost the Browns to get him from the Texans. In eight starts for Cleveland, Watson has yet to throw for 300 yards and last week blew a golden opportunity to rally the Browns in the closing minutes at Pittsburgh. The good news is in six career games against Tennessee he has 19 touchdowns – 17 passing, with a rating of 119.2 and aims for his third straight game against the Titans throwing for over 325 yards with three touchdowns. Tennessee’s defense is allowing 281.5 yards through the air through the first two weeks.
Cleveland’s defense has been dominating early this season and have not allowed an opponent to run a play inside their 30 through two games. Jim Schwartz’s rebuilt unit has surrendered just 14 first downs, 15 points and allowed one touchdown through two games.
Browns defensive ends Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith have four sack apiece in their careers against the Titans. Garrett has 7.5 sacks over his last six home games while Smith has also forced a pair of fumbles against Tennessee.
Safety Grant Delpit is off to a hot start this season for Cleveland. Delpit had an interception and recovered a fumble last week. Delpit has broken up a pair of passes to go with 14 tackles, including one for loss and a QB hit.
Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II is sidelined due to a hyperextended elbow suffered in Pittsburgh opening the door for rookie Cameron Mitchell’s role to expand and putting more of an onus on Denzel Ward, who had a pair of pass breakups and a forced fumble last week. Ward has broken up a pass in eight straight games, the longest active streak in the league.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another last week, has had success against the Browns in his career. Tannehill aims for his third consecutive start vs. Cleveland throwing for at least 315 yards and three touchdowns.
Derrick Henry, who is among the NFL rushing leaders yearly, is averaging 3.6 yards per carry this season. He ran for 80 yards and a touchdown last week against the Chargers. The Browns are surrendering just 65 yards rushing on the ground.
Titans receiver Deandre Hopkins has 16 catches for 245 yards with three touchdowns in four career games against Cleveland.
Tennessee defensive end Denico Autry has a sack and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has five tackles and a sack in each of the first two games while safety Kevin Byard, who has four interceptions in his last three games against the Browns, led the team with 12 tackles last week.
Last week – Titans beat the Chargers 27-24 in OT, Browns lost to the Steelers 26-22
The last time – December 6, 2020: Browns 41, Titans 35
Series – Browns lead all-time 36-31
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Titans offense vs. Browns defense:
Scoring: Titans 21.0, Browns 14.5
Total yards: Titans 313.0, Browns 198.5
Passing: Titans 190.5, Browns 133.5
Rushing: Titans 122.5, Browns 65.0
Browns defense vs. Steelers offense:
Scoring: Titans 20.0, Browns 23.0
Total yards: Titans 346.5, Browns 379.0
Passing: Titans. 281.5, Browns 177.0
Rushing: Titans 65.0, Browns 202.0
Defensive stats
Sacks: Titans 7, Browns 4
Takeaways: Titans 2, Browns 2
Turnover differential: Titans -1, Browns -4
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Deshaun Watson, RB Jerome Ford, WR Elijah Moore
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: DNP: CB Greg Newsome II (elbow); QUESTIONABLE: OT James Hudson (ankle); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Amari Cooper (groin, shoulder), DE Za’Darius Smith (ankle, thigh), LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder), LB Anthony Walker (pectoral), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (shoulder), Siaki Ika (foot), S Juan Thornhill (calf)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, brown jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WOIO TV-19 (CBS)
Kickoff –1:03 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 27, Titans 20
Our 2023 record – 1-1