With both teams entering the game with a record of 1-1, the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans are set to square off in a Week 3 tilt that carries high meaning. Coming off of a devastating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (both on the scoreboard and in their backfield), they need to prove they are the legit contenders their defense is playing like. The Titans are coming off of a win against the Los Angeles Chargers looking to prove they are better than their roster is on paper.
Can the Browns rebound after laying an egg a week ago despite losing their top offensive weapon in Nick Chubb? Can the Titans reel off two in a row? These are questions that will be answered in less than 24 hours from now as the teams are set to square off at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Buy Browns TicketsAs we do every week, here are the predictions from our three staff members at Browns Wire.
Jacob Roach (@roachizm13)
Coming off the disastrous offensive meltdown in Pittsburgh it is pretty hard to project a turnaround this week. But the Browns match up against the struggling pass defense of the Titans so it should be a good chance to figure things out. But without Nick Chubb, it’s hard to think they can put up a good amount of points this week.
On the other side, the defense continues to play well and the Titans haven’t protected Ryan Tannehill very well which favors the Browns. Overall this will probably be a low-scoring slugfest and against all my better judgement
I’ll take the Browns to win 24-17.
Browns Alchemy (@BrownsAlchemy)
The Browns’ offense will go through a metamorphosis without Nick Chubb. The Browns’ run game without Chubb has looked like a knockoff version, and with the return of Kareem Hunt, it seems even more so now than ever. If the Browns pivot to Deshaun’s arm, the team could be in bigger trouble offensively. Deshaun’s play has been inconsistent and inaccurate, and worst of all, it hurts the team.
Looking at him for a solution is like looking for it in a magic 8-ball, but with every response the toy insults your mother. The bright side is that the defense looks outstanding. The game will be a difficult test for a solid run defense. If the Browns’ defense can limit Henry, then fans can get excited about what Schwartz is cooking up.
Not only could the defense be good enough to keep us in playoff contention with a dead offense, but it could be historically great. It’s something to keep an eye on over the next handful of months. Unfortunately, the Browns offense will give the game away to the Titans.
The Browns will fall to the Titans 10-17 on Sunday.
Cory Kinnan (@fakecorykinnan)
The Browns have their backs against the wall just three weeks into the season. Their offense cannot move the ball through the air despite an offseason of overhaul around quarterback Deshaun Watson, and now they do not have Nick Chubb to fall back onto. The Titans are not a team that will light up the scoreboard either, but they have a sturdy run game to rely on, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill can still do just enough to grind out yards through the air.
The Cleveland defensive front and the secondary may just be too much for this Tennessee offensive line and wide receiver corps to overcome though. The disparity on paper is wide. The question remains: can head coach Kevin Stefanski and Watson get on the same page and find any semblance of success through the air?
I’m taking the Browns in an ugly win: Browns 24-17.
