No NFL game is ever truly safe, but Week 7 does hand out a few matchups that look about as one-sided as it gets. After last week reminded everybody that even the most lopsided spots can go sideways - the Los Angeles Rams getting stunned by the Arizona Cardinals being the loudest example - the league still has a game or two where the better side should handle business.
One of those belongs to the Cleveland Browns.
The idea of the Browns being a sure thing in a game feels strange on its face, but that’s where 2026 is right now. Cleveland is sitting in first place in the AFC North, and while nobody is calling this a Super Bowl team, it is very clearly a good one. Whatever Todd Monken has put together has taken hold.
Deshaun Watson is not a perfect quarterback, but he has played well enough to give Cleveland a real chance every week. The offensive line, which has been rebuilt, is holding together, and the defense is doing enough to keep the Browns on track. They may still be a year away from being talked about in a much bigger way, but 9-8 or 10-7 is very much in play based on the way they’ve looked so far.
That’s a bad setup for the Tennessee Titans, who come in looking like one of the league’s bottom-3 teams. Yes, they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6, a result that led to Chris Ballard being fired, but that doesn’t erase the 0-5 start they brought into that game. The Titans have been struggling to do much of anything well, and second-year quarterback Cam Ward has not done anything of note.
There’s also real doubt about whether Tennessee has the right coaching staff in place. Robert Saleh is unquestionably a good defensive mind, but his work as a head coach has been subpar.
The Titans look headed for another lost season, while the Browns could even find themselves in a playoff spot. In this one, Cleveland is going to win.
In Other News...
Titans Fans Rip Julius Chestnut Over Another Brutal Season Moment
Julius Chestnut showed up to the Titans game against the Browns dressed for Halloween, with a black outfit and a full-face mask that quickly became a talking point online. For a Tennessee team already trying to keep its footing through a rough stretch, even a pregame appearance turned into another moment fans latched onto and criticized on social media.
The reaction came against the backdrop of a week that already had plenty of noise around the Titans, including the recent release of defensive tackle Jordan Elliott after an incident in the team facility parking lot that violated NFL rules. Robert Saleh described Elliotts actions as a lapse in judgment and a call for help, leaving Tennessee to manage yet another off-field storyline while the focus should have been on what was happening on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Debate Just Got Tougher For Titans Fans
The Titans had a chance to reset the conversation Sunday when they jumped out to a 14-0 lead on the Browns, but the familiar issues returned fast in a 27-24 loss. While Cam Wards up-and-down play will keep drawing the loudest scrutiny, the offense showed enough other cracks to make this more than a simple quarterback verdict, especially with Tony Pollard carrying the load on the ground and scoring three times.
Robert Saleh made clear afterward that the offensive struggles are not solely on Ward, and the numbers from Cleveland back up why the debate is getting messier. Ward went 20 of 31 for 181 yards without a touchdown, and his streak of throwing an interception in five straight games only adds to the pressure, but the Titans are also still searching for consistency around him as they try to turn strong starts into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Waste Tony Pollard Breakout In Another Brutal Home Loss
Tony Pollard gave the Titans exactly the kind of spark they needed, delivering three touchdowns and 155 total yards in a loss to the Browns that pushed Tennessee to 1-6. It was the rare home game where the offense produced a standout individual performance, but the bigger picture never tilted the Titans way as the defense surrendered 27 points and the team came up short again in front of its own crowd.
Malik Willis finished 20 of 31 for 181 yards with one interception, and Tennessee repeatedly failed to turn chances into momentum. Cor'Dale Flotts interception offered one of the few defensive highlights, but the Titans could not cash in often enough around it, leaving Pollards breakout effort as another frustrating footnote in a season that keeps slipping further away. [Read more 🡒]