Browns vs. Titans: 5 best games of all-time
By Thomas Moore
It was early in the 2002 season when the Browns traveled to Nashville to take on Tennessee at The Coliseum.
In an early indication that it was going to be an interesting year, the Browns had opened the season with a 40-39 loss to Kansas City, thanks in large part to Dwayne Rudd and his helmet, before rebounding in Week 2 to take down the Bengals.
The game against the Titans was the first of the season for quarterback Tim Couch, who was returning to the lineup after suffering an elbow injury in the preseason. Couch opened the game hot, completing his five passes, and leading the Browns to a touchdown on their opening possession of the game.
The good times did not last, however, as the Titans built a 28-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Browns cut the lead to seven as Couch hit Andre’ Davis with a 12-yard touchdown pass with just a little more than two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game.
Cleveland recovered the ensuring onside kick when Phil Dawson put the ball to the left – while everyone was lined up on the right – and Dennis Northcutt recovered.
Couch drove the Browns down the short field and hit Northcutt with a three-yard touchdown pass to send the game into overtime.
In the extra session, the Browns won the toss and quickly moved into range for Dawson to win the game with a field goal.
On the day, Couch completed a team-record 36 passes while throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns.
“There was a lot of talk this week whether I should even be the quarterback of this team. I’ve said all along I don’t care what a lot of people on the outside think, but I know these guys in this locker room believe in me and I believe in myself,” Couch said after the game. “Hopefully, today maybe I proved a point.”
The Tennessee game would not be the last close contest for the Browns in 2002, a season that would ultimately see the team make the playoffs for the first time since 1994.
Next: No. 4: Kevin Mack's redemption