Tennessee Titans derail Cleveland Browns hype train with blowout win

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 8: Delanie Walker #82 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates getting a first down during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 8, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 8: Delanie Walker #82 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates getting a first down during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 8, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Titans just put the NFL on notice after a rout of the Cleveland Browns, 43-13.

After an entire offseason of being totally overlooked by every expert, the Tennessee Titans shocked the football world in Week 1 and derailed the Cleveland Browns hype train with a blowout victory.

Everyone and their mother had the Browns winning this game. Cleveland was going to steamroll the Titans in the first step en route to their Super Bowl season, right?

Wrong.

Instead, it was the Titans who squashed the Browns like a bug and showed the football world exactly why some of us are so high on the boys in the two tone. You know, those of us who actually follow the team.

For starters, this Titans defense is championship-caliber. If you don’t believe me, just ask Baker Mayfield after Sunday’s game.

The Titans defense got constant pressure and the boy wonder threw three picks, which made Mayfield look like a rookie all over again.

Perhaps he should have spent some more time studying this Titans defense instead of shotgunning beers at baseball games — but he’s so cool.

The Titans weren’t supposed to be able to cover Odell Beckham Jr., but he was non-existent in the second half, and really, for much of this game.

And, you know who the better quarterback was in this game? Marcus Mariota.

Sure, he missed some throws he shouldn’t have over the course of the game, but he made the plays when it mattered most. He tossed three touchdown passes to Mayfield’s one, and most importantly he didn’t turn the ball over like Mayfield did.

Not bad for the Titans’ future backup quarterback, eh?

Hopefully this is a lesson to those in the media who counted the Titans out. While I won’t hold my breath for these talking heads to actually learn their lesson, I will bask in the glory of the Browns hype train getting derailed in every sense of the word.

The Titans know how to win, and three straight 9-7 seasons proves that. And on Sunday, the Titans showed the Browns it takes more than hype and what’s on paper to win a football game.