Browns not up to all the hype
CLEVELAND— The Titans ignored all the hoopla about the ballyhooed Browns, and maybe made some hype of their own.
Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes — one a backbreaking, 75-yarder on a screen to big back Derrick Henry — and Tennessee rolled to a 43-13 rout Sunday over Cleveland, which fizzled in its highly anticipated opener.
Titans tight end Delanie Walker had two touchdown catches in the fourth, and Tennessee’s defensive backs intercepted Baker Mayfield three times in the final 15 minutes.
Walker was one of several Titans who grew tired of the pregame attention paid to the Browns.
“You all can crown them if you want to crown them,” Walker said. “We still have to play football.”
Before reporters were allowed into Tennessee’s locker room, several loud cheers could be heard in the outside hallway as coach Mike Vrabel handed out game balls.
“It’s really all about us,” Mariota said. “All the outside noise, all those things that people say you can’t control. We don’t focus on that at all. It was a great team win. All across the board.” Cameron Wake sacked Mayfield in the end zone for a safety in the first half, and the Titans dominated the undisciplined and perhaps overblown Browns, picked by some to contend for a Super Bowl title after adding Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns committed 18 penalties for 182 yards, a poor reflection on first-year coach Freddie Kitchens. Cleveland also had starting left tackle Greg Robinson ejected for kicking Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro.
The performance left Cleveland fans wondering if they’ve been duped. The Browns are 1-19-1 in openers since 1999.
“We lost our discipline and we lost our composure, but it is one game and we are going to be tested,” Kitchens said.
“You either take adversity and run toward each other or you run away. We have a bunch of guys who are going to run toward each other and we are going to be fine. It is one game. I do not care. It counts on the scoreboard, but each game counts one time.”
Following the game, Mayfield had X-rays taken and he left FirstEnergy Stadium with his right wrist wrapped.
The Titans always seem to be overlooked, but after just missing the playoffs last season, Vrabel had his team ready.
Mariota finished 14 of 24 for 248 yards, completing his two scoring passes to Walker in a span of 3:29 of the final quarter when the Titans opened a 23point lead.
“He was composed,” Vrabel said of Mariota. “He got us into all the right plays. They were pressuring, and some of those things weren’t easy. It wasn’t perfect. He will tell you he missed some throws, but he competed.”
Mayfield, who took several big hits while playing behind a patchwork line, brought Cleveland within 15-13 with a 3-yard TD pass to David Njoku. But the Titans countered immediately as Henry, who sat out the preseason with a calf injury, took a short pass, picked up a few blocks and rumbled down the sideline for the long score.
“I knew going in we had an opportunity with that play,” Mariota said.
“We just hit it. I knew if I could get the ball to Derrick he was going to have a chance. When you get that guy in space he’s tough to tackle.”
Kevin Byard picked off Mayfield moments later, and Mariota connected with Walker for an 11-yard score.
The three-time Pro Bowler was making his return after suffering a season-ending broken leg in last year’s opener.
Mayfield was then picked for the second time and Tennessee’s Logan Ryan led the entire defence to the far end of the field, where they taunted Cleveland’s rabid Dawg Pound section.