THE STORY: Both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns find themselves in similar territory, winning their last two games after dropping a close opener. These teams will try to keep that momentum when they collide at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. The quarterbacks are the big story. Cleveland’s Colt McCoy is a young gun trying to prove he can cut it in the NFL. Tennessee’s Matt Hasselbeck is a veteran passer out to show he still has something left in the tank. Both quarterbacks came through for their teams with decisive fourth-quarter scores in Week 3.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Browns -1, O/U 39.5
ABOUT THE TITANS (2-1): Hasselbeck was supposed to be a caretaker quarterback, but with a slow start from RB Chris Johnson, the passing game has shouldered the load and is currently seventh in the NFL (300.7 passing ypg). However, those numbers could dip with WR Kenny Britt out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the 17-14 win over Denver last Sunday. Tennessee will look to its defense to pick up the slack. It is the top-ranked defense in the league, allowing only 261 yards per game – which is quite the turnaround after finishing 26th in defense last season.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (2-1): Cleveland’s 17-16 win over Miami last Sunday wasn’t the prettiest victory, especially
McCoy, who completed just 49 percent of his passes. However, the second-year QB came up big when the Browns needed him, leading an 80-yard scoring drive for the win. Cleveland should have RB Peyton Hillis back after he missed Week 3 with strep throat. In his absence, backup RB Montario Hardesty was solid, rushing for 67 yards and catching three passes for another 19.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Tennessee is on a six-game road losing streak dating to Oct. 18, 2010, losing those games by an average of 10 points. However, the Titans have won three of their last four trips to Cleveland, going back to Nov. 28, 1999.
2. This could be the week Chris Johnson finally breaks out. Johnson, who has totaled just 98 yards on 46 carries (2.1 yards per attempt), faces the 29th-ranked run defense in the NFL. The last time Johnson met the Browns, he rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown.
3. Cleveland leads the all-time series against Tennessee, 33-27, and has won three of the last four meetings.