The Tennessee Titans finally got into the win column in Week 6, and now they get a chance to try to do something they haven’t done since November 2022: stack victories. Sunday’s home matchup with the Cleveland Browns doesn’t make that easy, especially with Cleveland sitting at 4-2 through six games. But there’s enough from last week’s performance to keep Tennessee from fading into the background.
The biggest sign of life came from the offense after halftime against Indianapolis. Tennessee was blanked in the first half, then flipped the script by scoring on all five of its second-half possessions. That stretch produced one touchdown and four field goals, a much-needed burst of consistency for an offense that has had trouble finding points this season.
The Titans still leaned heavily on their defense and special teams to fuel the turnaround. Three turnovers in the half helped swing the game, and one of those was a blocked punt that was taken back for a touchdown. Tennessee still has work to do when it comes to turning longer drives into touchdowns, but finishing every second-half possession with points was a meaningful step forward.
The defense, meanwhile, has a matchup it should like on paper. Tennessee piled up six sacks against Indianapolis and forced three turnovers, with Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson II each getting to the quarterback twice. Tony Adams and Jacob Martin added a sack apiece in a disruptive showing that set the tone.
That pressure could matter again because Cleveland has had serious protection issues with Deshaun Watson. Through six games, Watson has been sacked an NFL-high 24 times, which gives Tennessee’s front another favorable look.
Cleveland’s overall record has been strong, but the offense behind it has not been. The Browns are averaging just 17.7 points per game, which ranks 28th in the league, and their 267.5 yards per game sits 29th.
That’s where Tennessee can hang around. The Titans held Indianapolis to seven second-half points last week, and the combination of pressure and turnovers gave their defense the kind of momentum that can travel into another home game against a struggling offense.
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Vrabel Had An Emotional Reaction To A Former Titan Beating Him
Cairo Santos has a way of turning old chapters into fresh reminders, and Mike Vrabel had to absorb another one in a recent game against his Patriots. Santos drilled a 58-yard field goal to help seal the win, and Vrabel made a point afterward to acknowledge the kickers performance, recognizing how far he has come since his time in Tennessee.
For Titans fans, it is a familiar kind of story: a player once cast aside finding his footing elsewhere and showing it in a high-pressure moment. Vrabels reaction carried a trace of emotion because the turnaround is hard to ignore, especially after Santos was cut by the Titans in 2019 following a rough game in which he missed four field goals. Even in defeat, Vrabel sounded genuinely proud of the progress Santos has made since then. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Pollard Could Decide More Than Sunday's Titans Game
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Pollard is expected to carry a significant workload Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, and the matchup may matter well beyond the final score. Because he is in the final year of his contract, a strong showing could only add to his value for a team that appears to be in sell mode, giving Tennessee a decision that reaches past Week 7 and into the deadline conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Cedric Gray May Be Forcing A Titans Linebacker Shift
Cedric Gray spent the early part of the season working from behind after a concussion kept him out of the opener and left veteran Cody Barton ahead of him in the snap count. For a Titans defense that has been sorting out roles at linebacker, Grays slow ramp-up made it seem like the rotation might settle around Barton and the more established pieces.
Week 6 brought a noticeable shift, though, with Gray playing more snaps than Barton and drawing praise from defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for the way he has handled communication and leadership. Gray said he is trying to take on more control, and the coaching staff expects his workload to grow, which makes the linebacker picture worth watching as Tennessee keeps refining the middle of its defense. [Read more 🡒]