Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.Browns v. Tennessee TitansSunday, 1 p.m., in FirstEnergy StadiumRecord: 1-1.
Last game: Defeated Los Angeles Chargers, 27-24, Sept. 17, in Nashville, TN.
Coach: Mike Vrabel, 49-35, sixth year.
Series record: Browns lead, 36-31.
Last meeting: Browns won, 41-35, Dec. 6, 2020, in Nashville.
League rankings: Offense is 21
st overall (11
th rushing, 22
nd passing), defense is 20
th (third rushing, 28
th passing) and turnover differential is minus-1.
Things to watch1. New GM Ron Carthon and coach Mike Vrabel think the Titans can make one last playoff run in the final contract year of quarterback Ryan Tannehill ($36.6 million cap) and running back Derrick Henry ($16.36 million). Each is basically in his lame-duck season because the Titans haven’t extended the contract of either – and don’t intend to. The Titans let out a sigh of relief when Tannehill rebounded from a bad Week 1 loss to the Saints (three interceptions) by outdueling the Chargers’ Justin Herbert. Backup quarterbacks Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis are nowhere close to being ready to assume the No. 1 role, so the stage is Tannehill’s for one last season.
Derrick Henry, who rushed for 2,027 yards in his offensive player-of-the-year season in 2020, might be in his last season with the Titans.
Henry’s days of averaging 300+ carries a season are done. Even though he has averaged 20 in the first two games, the Titans, under new coordinator Tim Kelly, are incorporating change-of-pace back Tyjae Spears into the offense. The third-round draft choice from Tulane will get more playing time as his rookie season unfolds.
3. Kelly, who worked with Vrabel in Houston, is using more 11 personnel and is trying to develop a downfield passing game featuring receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks. A couple problems: A. The offense doesn’t have a legit slot receiver or productive tight end. B. The offensive line has four new starters and it has yet to form much cohesion. So Henry will continue to be the offense’s bread-and-butter until the passing game coalesces.
4. Defense is Vrabel’s team strength. The front seven is anchored by Jeffrey Simmons, a premier defensive tackle whose new, four-year contract slots him third in annual salary ($23.5 million) at his position. He is flanked by a pair of edge rushers in Vrabel’s 3-4 scheme, free agent Arden Key and Harold Landry. Free safety Kevin Byard is one of the league’s under-radar superstars. The ballhawk ranks seventh among active players with 27 career interceptions.
Did you know … ?1. Two defensive starters who missed the Chargers game – cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) and safety Amani Hooker (concussion) – are expected to be back this week. Both were full participants at practice on Wednesday.
2. At the cut to 53, the Titans traded for veteran kicker Nick Folk, 38, and then signed Browns castoff Cade York. They see York as a projected replacement for Folk next season.
3. Punter Ryan Stonehouse’s gross average of 51.6 yards is fourth in the NFL.
4. The Titans intend to break ground next year on a new, enclosed stadium that they hope will attract major sports attractions, including a future Super Bowl. The projected cost of $2.1 billion will include $1.26 billion in public funding – a record for a sports stadium. It will be built along the Cumberland River adjacent to the current Nissan Stadium and is slated to be completed for the 2027 season.
Small world: Head coach Mike Vrabel is a native of Akron, attended Walsh Jesuit HS and played and coached at Ohio State … Assistant offensive line coach Mike Sullivan coached offensive line for the Browns (2001-04 and 2007-08 and 2013) … Defensive quality control coach Justin Hamilton was a seventh-round draft pick of the Browns in 2006. The safety was on the roster just that season ... Defensive line coach Terrell Williams was defensive line coach at Youngstown State (2002-03) and Akron (2004-05) … Outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow was offensive line coach and coordinator at Baldwin-Wallace (2014) and was a graduate assistant at Ohio State (2017) … Kicker Cade York (practice squad) was a Browns fourth-round draft pick in 2022 and set a franchise rookie record with 107 points. He was waived at the 53 cut this year.
