Browns: 3 keys to victory over the Tennessee Titans

The Cleveland Browns are facing the one team in the NFL that is most like them and these are the three things they need to do to beat the Titans.

The Cleveland Browns will meet the Tennessee Titans in a game that will decide so many things. Both teams need the win for different reasons. The Titans need it to keep pace in the AFC South and try to angle for a home game to open the playoffs. For the Browns, it’s about proving that losses to the Steelers and Ravens were flukes and that they can in fact beat top teams like the Titans.

To do that, however, the Browns are going to need to angle in on three specific points. These are the three keys to victory the Browns will need to follow to topple the Titans.

Stack the box

The Titans have one of the best running backs in the league in Derrick Henry. Sure, the likes of Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffery may warrant a debate on what constitutes “best”. Some will argue being near the top as a runner and a receiver is better than being the best runner, but when you’re as good at running as Henry is, does it really matter if he’s not a passing threat? At the end of the day, you still have to tackle him.

For the Browns, that’s not a reassuring thought. See, they can get turnovers, and they can sack the quarterback – well, one of them can – but tackling? Ehhh…that’s a problem for this defense. Their best tackler is also the fanbase’s number one scapegoat, Andrew Sendejo, and their best linebacker, Wilson Mack, tackles as well as a wet paper bag trying to stop a tank.

So you know, issues is the word of the day to describe the Browns defense. The Browns are going to need to hope that Myles Garrett is back to full strength so they can stack the box and not worry about play action. If Garrett can zip into the backfield, then maybe he can disrupt the timing of the routes. If not, this is going to be a long day.