The Tennessee Titans came into their Week 14 matchup against the Cleveland Browns carrying a heavy underdog label-and for good reason. The Browns boast one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushers in Myles Garrett, who entered the game needing just four sacks to break the single-season record.
On the other side, the Titans’ offensive line has been a revolving door all season, allowing more sacks than any team in the NFL. On paper, this looked like a mismatch tailor-made for Garrett to feast.
But the Titans had other ideas.
After the Browns won the coin toss and deferred, the Titans took the opening kickoff-something that’s been more of a formality than a threat this season. Coming into this game, Tennessee was the only team in the league that hadn’t scored a touchdown on its opening possession all year. That streak ended in Cleveland.
The tone was set early when rookie return man Chimere Dike gave the Titans solid field position with a return that brought the ball near midfield. From there, Tennessee showed they came prepared with a script that was tailored not just to move the ball, but to minimize Garrett’s impact.
Facing a 3rd-and-10 early in the drive, the Titans dialed up a clever screen to Tyjae Spears. The rookie running back chipped Garrett at the line before slipping out into the flat, where quarterback Cameron Ward found him with room to run. Spears turned it into a 24-yard gain, flipping the field and flipping the momentum.
Two plays later, the Titans were in another tough spot-3rd-and-long-but Ward hit tight end Chig Okonkwo for nine yards to keep the chains moving. Then, on 2nd-and-8 from the Browns’ 14-yard line, the Titans went for the kill shot.
Ward dropped back behind max protection and delivered a strike to fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor for a 14-yard touchdown. Just like that, Tennessee had marched 53 yards in eight plays to take an early lead-and more importantly, they kept Garrett off the stat sheet.
This wasn’t just a fluky drive-it was a statement. The Titans came in with a clear plan to neutralize Garrett, and it worked.
They ran right at him, using their left tackle and guard to force him to play the run. When they passed, they kept it quick-getting the ball out before Garrett could get home.
On the one play that needed more time to develop, they protected it with extra bodies, and it paid off with six points.
For a team that’s struggled mightily to start games-and protect its quarterback-this was a rare moment of execution and poise. And for a Browns defense that’s been elite all season, it was a reminder that even the best pass rushers can be taken out of the game when the gameplan is sharp and the execution is crisp.
The Titans may still be fighting uphill in the playoff picture, but on this drive, they showed they’re not going to roll over for anyone. Not even Myles Garrett.