The Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans renew their rivalry after a one-season hiatus to kick off the 2019 season at FirstEnergy Stadium. Both teams have changed quite a bit since the last meeting, a Week 7 matchup in 2017 won by the Titans, 12-9.
To get caught up with what’s going on with the visitors from Nashville, I turned to Titans Wire and editor Crissy Froyd to get some intel.
How will the team handle the shuffling at offensive tackle, and how much will that hurt the Titans offense?
The offensive line is a huge issue going into this matchup. The first-team offensive line didn’t exactly look strong in what we saw of it in the preseason, and the absence of left tackle Taylor Lewan takes a major toll. If the offensive line can’t perform, the entire offense is shut down. How well this unit does will determine a win or loss for Tennessee.
What is the biggest strength of the 2019 Titans?
The biggest area of strength the Titans have heading into 2019 is their weapons on offense. They have Derrick Henry to boost the run game, a star tight end in Delanie Walker, slot receiver Adam Humphries coming off a career year in Tampa and Corey Davis continuing to come into his own.
How have Corey Davis and Harold Landry, a pair of promising young talents, progressed into the new year?
Landry is just now returning to full capacity, and it will be interesting to see how he handles stepping into a larger role for the team heading into Week 1. From what we’ve seen from Davis throughout camp and the preseason, he’s been solid and should only continue to get better as one of quarterback Marcus Mariota’s favorite weapons on offense.
What is one area where the Browns appear to have a big advantage in the matchup?
The Browns have the upper hand playing on their own turf, and with more hype surrounding them than they’ve had in a long time. The crowd there is going to be unrelenting. The Titans could also have issues keeping an explosive quarterback like Baker Mayfield at bay, along with the talented supporting cast he’s surrounded by. Pass rush on Tennessee’s end is still questionable.
Who wins and why?
This is going to be a close game in which either team could snag the lead in the final minutes. But it’s hard to put trust in the Tennessee offensive line, so the Browns get the victory, 27-20.
