Cleveland falls to 0-7, loses OT Thomas

TITANS 12, BROWNS 9, OT

CLEVELAND» When all else fails, the Tennessee Titans know they can turn to Ryan Succop.

On Sunday, Mr. Automatic came through again.

“That guy’s money,” Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota said.

Succop’s fourth field goal — a 47-yarder with 1:55 left in overtime — extended his NFL record for makes inside 50 yards to 55 straight and sent the Titans to an ugly 12-9 win on Sunday over the winless Cleveland Browns, who lost durable Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas with a triceps injury.

Succop’s clutch kick enabled the Titans (4-3) to get their second win in six days and kept them tied for first in the AFC South. Succop made five field goals in Monday night’s win over Indianapolis, and then converted on kicks from 43, 23 and 46 yards before missing a 53-yarder with 8:44 left in the fourth quarter.

However, with the Titans and Browns headed toward a tie, Succop delivered.

“We’re very fortunate to have him,” Mariota said. “In these situations, he’s done it time and time again. When you have a guy like that it’s huge.”

Browns rookie Zane Gonzalez forced overtime by kicking a season-long 54yard field goal with 47 seconds left in regulation to tie it 9-9. Gonzalez added kicks of 31 and 47 yards.

But the Browns (0-7) committed 12 penalties and dropped to 1-22 in two seasons under coach Hue Jackson, whose future is becoming less certain. Cleveland’s troubles worsened as Thomas, a 10-time Pro Bowler, missed his first play in 11 seasons.

Thomas went out with a triceps injury that snapped his streak of 10,363 consecutive offensive plays. The No. 3 pick in 2007 has been the lone bright spot over the past decade for Cleveland’s franchise, and seeing him leave in distress added more pain for Cleveland fans at the end of their ropes.

Thomas will undergo an MRI on Monday and is expected to miss weeks if not months.