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Browns at Titans: Highlights, score, and recap

By Russell S. Baxter

Oct 9, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tennessee Titans went out on Sunday and did exactly what they were supposed to do…sort of.

When it was all said and done, Mike Mularkey’s team held on to defeat the winless Cleveland Browns, 28-26, and evened their record at 3-3. That may not sound like that big of a deal. But when you enter a season having a won a combined five games the previous two seasons, three victories in six weeks is a nice start.

In both 2014 and ’15, the Titans managed to lose to this club. Two years ago, they squandered a 28-3 lead in a one-point loss in what was the biggest road comeback by a team in NFL history.
The setback was the ninth in a row for the Browns dating back to last season. It dropped their record to 10-28 dating back to 2014. Cleveland is now just 3-24 in its last 27 outings dating back to the latter stages of ’14.

There were some bright spots for Hue Jackson’s team.

The Browns’ defense had no answers for a Tennessee attack that rolled up 407 total yards by game’s end. Cleveland made things interesting after the Titans took a 28-13 lead with less than seven minutes to play. But it was too little too late for the luckless Browns.

Three Stars

1. Marcus Mariota

The second-year pro connected on 17 of his 24 throws for 284 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. Mariota also ran the ball seven times for 64 yards, 41 of those yards coming on an early jaunt down the left sidelines. The Titans’ signal-caller has thrown for 10 scores while being picked off just six times during the team’s 3-3 start this season.

2. Cody Kessler

The rookie quarterback overcame six sacks and threw for 336 yards and two scores, both to emerging wideout Terrelle Pryor, in the Browns’ latest loss. Kessler connected on 26 of his 41 throws and unfortunately did not get a lot of help from the ground game.

3. Kendall Wright

Three catches for 23 yards in his first two appearances of the season (after missing the first two weeks of 2016) morphed into nine receptions for 133 yards and a score in Tennessee’s win. In his previous action this year, Wright’s longest grab was for 11 yards.

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Odds

Despite the fact that the Titans have lost to this team each of the past two seasons, Tennessee was a 7.5-point favorite over the winless Browns. The OVER/UNDER stood at 43.5.

Next Week

Both clubs have meetings with divisional foes in Week 7. The Cleveland Browns renew acquaintances with their intrastate rivals from the Queen City as they trek south to meet the Cincinnati Bengals. The Tennessee Titans are home for the second straight Sunday and will clash with the Indianapolis Colts.

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