Browns: 3 Tennessee Titans to game plan for in Week 13
By Chad Porto
The Cleveland Browns are taking on the Tennessee Titans in Week 13 in a game that will determine the future possibilities for both teams.
The Browns and Titans don’t have the same kind of history with the Browns as the Jaguars or even Eagles, at least in recent years. They’ve largely stayed out of each other’s way, with the only unifying link being that Clay Matthews Jr.’s brother, Bruce, played center for the Houston Oilers turned Titans at the turn of the 21st century. That’s it. No bad blood, no spiteful playoff games, no bottle chucking controversy or NFL Draft trade drama.
So when the Titans and Browns square off, there won’t be bad blood, but there will be two grinding, smash-mouth teams going toe to toe in a game that may serve to change the landscape of the NFL more than people realize. Both squads are coached by young, new(ish) coaches in the Browns Kevin Stefanski and the Titans Mike Vrable. Both men run the ball first, and use their quarterbacks as ways to punish defenses for trying to stack the box.
With the NFL being a copycat league, if the Titans and Browns find success in this game and beyond, it wouldn’t be too out there to think the league may see more running backs rise to prominence and more teams revert back to the smashmouth style.
That’s why when looking at the three players to worry most about with the Titans, we have to start with one of the two best running backs in the NFL. (The other is obviously Nick Chubb).
Derrick Henry
Obviously, Derrick Henry is on this list. How could he not be? A true MVP candidate, the Titan of Titans is having a career year. He’s failed to break the century mark only four times so far and has racked up 1,257 and 12 touchdowns while averaging just under 5.0 yards per carry. He’s the modern-day Jerome Bettis and runs through arm tackles like a tank through barbed wire. What more needs to be said about Henry that isn’t already known? The Browns are going to have to dogpile on him just to slow him down.
This game will determine if the Browns rush defense has actually gotten better than last year’s, despite the facts already saying otherwise.