Derrick Henry is on pace for 1,828 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. (InsideHook)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Browns v. Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Record: 8-3.
Last game: Defeated Colts, 45-26, Nov. 29, in Indianapolis.
Coach: Mike Vrabel, 28-18, third year.
Series record: Browns lead, 35-32.
Last meeting: Titans won, 43-13, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is eighth overall (third rushing, 22nd passing), defense is 25th overall, (16th rushing, 28th passing), and turnover differential is plus-11.
Things to watch
1.Head coach Mike Vrabel, the former Patriots linebacker, may be a defensive-minded coach, but his third Titans team has reached AFC elite level because of its offense. It’s sixth in scoring at 29.5 points a game, and has scored 30 or more six times and topped 40 three times. Like the Browns’, the offense run by coordinator Arthur Smith employs a wide-zone blocking scheme to propel workhorse running back Derrick Smith and a play-action passing game commanded by resurgent quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Smith’s imagination in using players in creative formations and his aggressiveness may earn him some head coach interviews in the hiring season. Plus, their five giveaways are the fewest in the NFL.
2.Henry is having a better year than in 2019 when he led the NFL with 1,540 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He is on pace to shatter career highs in attempts (372), yards (1,828), TDs (17), and yards per game (114.3). What’s interesting is Henry has done it with the Titans losing right tackle Jack Conklin to the Browns in free agency and left tackle Taylor Lewan to a torn ACL seven weeks ago. Lewan’s replacement, Ty Sambrailo, also landed on injured reserve, so former practice squadder David Quessenberry now is starting at left tackle. And Henry and the overall third-ranking running game has not missed a beat.
3.Ryan Tannehill was a sub-.500 quarterback (42-46) in six seasons with the Dolphins. But since taking over for former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota in Game 3 last year, Tannehill is 17-7, including the post-season, and has a surreal TD-to-INT ratio of 45-to-9 with a passer rating of 111.7. Tannehill’s success last year earned him a new contract ($118 million, four years) and is another reason why coordinator Smith could be a sought-after head coach.
4.The Titans defense has given up 30 or more points five times. The bane of it is the pass rush; only 14 sacks. The Titans struck out on free agent buy Vic Beasley, who’s been cut, and Jadeveon Clowney, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury and no sacks. The Titans are decent against the run (115.5 yards per game), but they are the worst third-down defense in the NFL, yielding first downs 52.6 percent of the time.
Did you know … ?
1.The Titans were 6-5 at this point last year. They finished at 9-7 and then caught fire in the playoffs, defeating the Patriots and Ravens on the road and held a 17-7 lead over the Chiefs in the championship game before losing, 35-24.
2.In a short period of time, Vrabel has established himself on a par with Bill Belichick, his former coach, for knowing and manipulating game rules in his team’s favor. In a game against Houston this year, he intentionally added a 12th man on defense to stop the clock. The 45 seconds saved enabled the Titans’ offense to drive down and score to force an overtime. They won on a field goal.
3.Special teams breakdowns have cost the Titans two of their three losses. They lost to the Colts, 34-17, when the replacement for injured punter Bret Kern had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown and also shanked a punt in a key situation to set up a score. They lost to the Steelers, 27-24, after kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 45-yard field to win in regulation.
4.Derrick Henry has a 200-yard rushing game in each of the last three seasons (and also one for 195 against the Ravens this year).
Small world: Mike Vrabel is a native of Akron and attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls … Offensive line coach Mike Sullivan worked for the Browns in 2007-08 and 2013 … Guard Rodger Saffold attended Beford High School … Offensive assistant Luke Steckel was Browns assistant to the head coach in 2009-12.