The first-place Cleveland Browns are learning how to win behind a dominant defense, and they’ll enter Week 7 as healthy as they’ve been since the season opener.
While last week’s comeback win over the rival Baltimore Ravens was huge, you could argue Sunday’s road trip to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans will be just as vital.
Cleveland is 3-0 at home and 2-0 within the division. The Browns’ next three games are all on the road, though, and with a showdown at Pittsburgh on deck, the franchise used to being the underdog will be looking to avoid a trap against the 1-5 Titans.
Tennessee just snapped a five-game skid with a 26-20 road win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans also beat the Browns last year, 31-29, so while they’re expected to win, Sunday’s game is no gimme.
With that in mind, here is a Browns game day primer as Cleveland seeks its fifth win in six games.
Browns injuries: Dylan Sampson, Grant Delpit cleared to return; Teven Jenkins to IR
Cleveland will have its full stable of running backs available against the Titans after Dylan Sampson was activated off injured reserve on Saturday. To make room, the Browns placed guard Teven Jenkins on injured reserve with a back injury.
Sampson hasn’t played since injuring his knee early in Cleveland’s Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He should give quarterback Deshaun Watson another weapon in the quick passing game while working behind starter Quinshon Judkins, who was removed from the injury report on Friday after logging a full practice.
The Browns are also expected to have two key defensive starters back in the lineup in safety Grant Delpit (concussion) and defensive tackle Mason Graham (knee, ankle). Graham hasn’t played since Cleveland’s Week 4 win over the Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Delpit was knocked out of last week's win over the Ravens in the first half.
Browns inactives prediction: Jaleel McLaughlin could be odd man out
Cleveland was able to get past Baltimore despite being down to a couple of backup running backs in Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. McLaughlin has helped give the Browns’ stagnant rushing attack a shot in the arm, but he could be a healthy scratch on Sunday with both Sampson and Judkins reassuming their posts.
This is just a prediction, but it makes more sense for the Browns to carry the 227-pound Estime as a third running back with Sampson filling McLaughlin’s change-of-pace role.
Here’s what the Browns’ inactives list could look like against the Titans:
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin
- QB Taylen Green (QB3)
- CB Noah Igbinoghene
- DT Mike Hall Jr.
- C Parker Brailsford
Note: This list will be updated when the official inactives are announced prior to kickoff.
3 keys to a Cleveland Browns win over the Titans in Week 7
Start on time
The Browns have been an excellent fourth-quarter team this season. They’ve been terrible at the start of games, though.
Cleveland has been outscored 44-6 in the first quarter, which per Sharp Football Analysis is the league’s worst margin. Facing an inferior opponent in the Titans, it’s now or never for the Browns to score early and play the game on their terms for a change.
Create manageable third-down situations
The Browns have the NFL’s worst third-down conversion rate at 30.8%. They’ve been burned by penalties and a lack of success on early downs.
Staying on schedule will be paramount against a sneaky-tough Tennessee defense that ranks 12th in the NFL in opponent first downs per play.
Per Sharp Analysis, the Browns are 5 for 42 on third-down situations of 7 or more yards. That 11.9% success rate ranks dead last in the NFL.
Force QB Cam Ward and the Titans to beat man defense
The Browns enter Week 7 with the league’s highest man-to-man defense rate at about 42%. That makes quarterback Cam Ward a favorable matchup on paper.
Ward is averaging just 4.5 yards per attempt when facing man, per Sharp, which ranks 29th in football. The Browns should be able to frustrate Tennessee’s young quarterback by playing to their defense’s strengths on Sunday.
Cleveland enters Week 7 with the NFL's fourth-best defensive success rate, according to SumerSports.
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