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.
Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill has been given a bad rep by NFL pundits who really don’t understand the game of football. Tannehill has been accurate, with a career percentage of 64%, has only three losing seasons to his name as a starter, and only one year where he threw for more interceptions than touchdowns. In fact, he’s only thrown more than 13 interceptions in a season just once. He’s also only thrown for less than 2,000 yards only once, and that was due to him being limited in games played.
Tannehill though was someone everyone gave up on. That is until Mike Vrable brought him into Tennessee. Finally, a Pro Bowler at 31, the now 32-year-old Tannehill is among one of the few AFC quarterbacks who warrant a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. His play has been stellar, with only four interceptions and five fumbles to speak of. The Browns aren’t going to force many turnovers in this game.
As a runner, he’s not Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, but he’s capable of finding the endzone if you don’t contain him, having rushed for six regular-season touchdowns in his brief two-season run with the Titans so far. He’s going to be a problem for a Browns squad who have had trouble dealing with dynamic quarterbacks like him.
Luckily for the Browns, Myles Garrett is expected back for the game. The Browns will be without Ronnie Harrison, possibly through the end of the season with a shoulder issue, however.
Malcolm Butler
The Titans lost a lot of good players in the offseason and some thought that might hurt them in 2020 as they try to repeat the success they had in 2019. Luckily for them, Malcolm Butler has stepped up greatly after the loss of a guy like Logan Ryan, who helped make this secondary one that was nearly impossible to throw on.
Butler is second on the team in interceptions with two, third on the team in tackles with 68, and has a whopping 11 pass deflections. Teams can’t throw on him or run his way. He’s too versatile as a player. That’s going to be a problem for the Browns, who don’t really have many big playmakers on the edges at the moment. While Jarvis Landry did pop up for a game against the Jaguars, it’s less likely he repeats that type of game against a far better secondary in the Titans.
If Landry does go off for a big game, it more than likely won’t be against the Butler. Butler’s going to be a problem for whichever receiver he lines up against, so the best bet may be to throw someone like David Njoku or Harrison Bryant, a tall athletic tight end, against him to try and negate his presence in the defense.
It may not work, after all, Butler has shown to be one of the better defensive backs in the AFC but the Browns can’t be afraid to challenge him. While Baker Mayfield has played well this year, a big challenge for him this well will involve him trying to throw on Butler and the rest of the Titans secondary. Luckily they’re not a great pass-rushing team – they only have 14 sacks on the season- so Mayfield should have time to let things develop around him and make the big throw when needed most.
Still, Butler should very much be seen as a threat.