The Tennessee Titans had the fast start they wanted, but the finish belonged to the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland outlasted Tennessee 27-24 on a field goal as time expired, turning a promising afternoon for the Titans into another tough loss in Nashville. The Titans led early, but the offense never found steady footing, and a series of missed chances helped swing the game back to the Browns.
One sequence summed up the day: Tennessee had three shots at the one-yard line midway through the first half and came away with nothing. That kind of empty trip was part of a broader pattern, with the Titans again unable to finish drives and again leaving points on the field.
The passing game never settled in against Cleveland. Cam Ward and the offense were inconsistent, but the problems weren’t limited to the quarterback. The receivers had multiple drops, and Carnell Tate also fumbled away a second-half drive.
The defense had its own issues. Tennessee’s pass rush never got rolling after a strong showing the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Browns were able to hit splash plays throughout the game. The Titans had opportunities on that side of the ball too, but couldn’t turn them into the kind of stops that change a game.
Tony Pollard was the biggest bright spot for Tennessee. He delivered his best game of the season, carrying 25 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns while adding three catches for 36 yards.
Kevin Winston Jr. also made his presence felt after missing two games, leading the Titans with 13 total tackles. Anthony Hill Jr. finished second with 12 tackles and recorded his first forced fumble.
The game turned on the final sequence. Deshawn Watson connected with Harold Fannon for a 36-yard gain as time was running out, and that set up Andre Szmyt’s game-winner as the clock hit zero.
Tennessee also lost punter Tommy Townsend, who left in the second quarter after injuring his left knee on a punt. He was initially listed as questionable to return, but he did not come back to punt. Joey Slye handled emergency punting duties, while Townsend stayed in the game as the holder on field goals in the second half.
Robert Saleh will speak with reporters Monday afternoon to close out the week and look ahead to Week 8. The Titans will return to practice on Wednesday before facing the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff is set for Noon CDT.
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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
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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 🡒]