The Tennessee Titans enjoyed a swift start in Week 7, leading the Cleveland Browns 14-0 in the first quarter. From there, both the offense and defense sputtered. The Titans and Browns exchanged repeated mistakes, crawling to a nailbiting fourth-quarter conclusion.
The offense failed to capitalize on various opportunities. The defense crumbled down the stretch. A controversial referee moment played a role, and the Browns escaped Nashville with a 27-24 win.
We've identified 10 instant overreactions from the Titans' hard-fought Week 7 loss.
10 immediate overreactions from Titans' 27-24 Week 7 loss to Browns
First opening-drive TD of the season!
The Titans entered Week 7 having not scored an opening-possession touchdown this season. That drought ended with an excellent drive that featured a heavy dosage of Tony Pollard. The Titans ran it five times on a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive. It was complimentary football. A holding penalty on Austin Schlottmann forced the offense into second-and-long. Cam Ward connected with Carnell Tate for a 15-yard pass. Pollard rushed for a 36-yard touchdown on the next snap.
CB Cor'Dale Flott is heating up
Coach Saleh had previously said the cornerbacks were undergoing an acclimation period in relation to learning his complex coverage schemes. The lightbulb appeared to flicker for Cor'Dale Flott last week, who recorded his first interception of the season in Week 6. Flott notched his second interception in two games after picking off DeShaun Watson in the first quarter on the Browns' 24-yard line. The Titans converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
Bad playcalling, worse execution on goal-line stand
Attempting to extend their 14-7 second-quarter lead, the Titans put together a 14-play drive that came away with zero points. A first-and-goal run from Pollard was initially called a touchdown, but an official's review ruled his knee down short. A Ward QB sneak was then stuffed. A play-action passing attempt was well-covered on 3rd-and-goal and Ward scrambled for no gain. Saleh elected to keep the offense on the field and Pollard failed to convert 4th-and-goal. It was a terrible turnover on downs that also featured some questionable play calling.
Defense bails offense out
Watson and the Browns offense took over possession on their 1-yard line and quickly gained 32 yards on four plays to get their drive moving. That's when Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. forced a Harold Fannin Jr. fumble that was recovered by safety Tony Adams. Unfortunately, the offense quickly sputtered.
Cam Ward gives it right back
Ward threw an interception on the first offensive play following the Hill-Adams fumble. Fans who wanted to see Ward throw it aggressively down field more frequently didn't like the result. Poor mechanics and ball placement gave Denzel Ward better positioning on a ball intended for Elic Ayomanor. It was a brutal error, as the Browns scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession, tying the game 14-14.
Receivers let Cam Ward down
Ward indisputably made some first-half mistakes, but his receivers let him down big-time during the third quarter. Wan'Dale Robinson couldn't complete an explosive passing play on 2nd-and-10 as his diving attempt did not survive the ground. On 3rd-and-10, Ward hit Carnell Tate on a chain-moving slant route, but the rookie receiver fumbled after the catch, with the Browns recovering it.
Titans capitalize on missed field goal
Browns kicker Andre Szmyt missed a makeable field goal to extend the Browns' second-half lead. The Titans offense took possession and strung together a stellar drive that concluded with a Joey Slye field goal. That kick made it a 17-17 game with roughly eight minutes remaining.
Titans bend-don't-break-defense falters
All afternoon, the Titans defense gave up chunk plays, mixed in with forcing turnovers. Tied 17 apiece, they finally collapsed at the worst imaginable time. Deshaun Watson oversaw an eight-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that gave the Browns a 24-17 advantage with 4:34 remaining.
Offense comes through in the dying moments
After a 4th-down passing completion by Ward, the offense faced 3rd-and-12 in the red zone. Ward hit Carnell Tate on a gorgeous back-shoulder throw near the pylon to keep the comeback hopes alive. Pollard scored his third touchdown of the afternoon to tie the game 24-24 on 2nd-and-goal.
Controversial referees help decide the game
The referees absolutely missed a false start on Browns right tackle Dawand Jones on the game-deciding play. Watson was allowed to take the snap and he completed a 36-yard pass to Harold Fannin Jr. That put the Browns in field position, and kicker Andre Szmyt converted the game-winning make.
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