Sept. 24 – Cleveland, OH

In a commanding 27-3 victory, the Cleveland Browns rebounded impressively from last week’s lackluster performance against the Steelers. However, seasoned Browns fans know better than to let their hopes soar too high just yet.

Once again, the Browns’ defense proved its mettle. The Titans struggled mightily, managing a mere 94 yards of offense, securing just five first downs and failing to score on any of their two red-zone opportunities. Needless to say, Veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Titans’ offense found themselves thwarted at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Tannehill faced off against a robust Cleveland defensive unit that allowed him to complete a meager 52% of his passes, amassing only 104 passing yards. Despite the presence of two-star players on the offense, running back Derrick Henry (second only to Nick Chubb) and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Titans’ offense sputtered. Henry could muster only 20 yards on 11 carries, while Hopkins fared only slightly better, catching three of his seven targets for 48 yards.

Leading the defensive charge was Myles Garrett, who put on a clinic with five tackles, three and a half sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. Garrett, widely regarded as one of the league’s best defensive linemen, was simply unstoppable. The Titans’ offensive line had no answers, resulting in eight quarterback hits and five sacks logged by the Browns’ defensive line. Barring a few penalties, the defense effectively shut down the Tennessee passing game, plugged the run and handed the Brown’s offense ample opportunities. Following last year’s inconsistent defensive displays, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is rapidly earning favor among Cleveland fans.

While quarterback DeShaun Watson had an impressive outing, completing a remarkable 81% of his passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, fans would be wise to maintain a degree of skepticism. Watson did suffer three sacks and made a questionable decision that resulted in a fumble. Fortunately, his teammate Elijah Moore recovered it.

With Watson at the helm, the Browns hogged the football for 38 minutes and 29 seconds while the Titans only possessed the football for 21 minutes and 31 seconds. The Brown’s offense had 23 first downs to the Titans’s six and 46% of the third down conversions while the Titans went two for 12 on third down.

The Browns’ running game struggled in its first full game without Nick Chubb and the team found itself benefiting from multiple defensive penalties against the Titans. Running backs Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong Jr. combined for just 58 rushing yards, with Ford managing to reach the end zone once.

Despite the offensive display resembling a well-oiled machine, concerns linger about the Browns’ ability to maintain offensive balance, particularly in the absence of Chubb. While the victory provides a welcome confidence boost for fans, only time will reveal whether Watson can return to his previous form and if the Browns’ offense can consistently perform without relying heavily on a stellar defensive showing.

For now, this victory marks a positive step forward for Watson and the Browns. Fans hope that this newfound momentum will carry over into next week’s divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct.1 at FirstEnergy Stadium.