The Cleveland Browns traveled down to Nashville to face off against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. Sitting at 4-2, the Browns are hoping to match pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won their early Sunday matchup in Paris, France. Cleveland got good news in pregame with the inactive report having CB Denzel Ward and LB Quincy Williams active for the game.
Usually, DBN’s founder Chris Pokorny provides you with these amazing game recaps, but he will be out for Week 7, so today’s might look a little
different than you are used to. Don’t worry, Chris should be back for Week 8.
1st Quarter
Not sure what it is about Cleveland’s defense, but they continue to struggle out of the gate. More zone coverage and a run defense that was torn apart for 60 yards, including a 36-yard gallop by RB Tony Pollard for an opening-drive touchdown.
The Browns offense started off smoothly with a couple of first downs, but a bad hold by RB Quinshon Judkins pulled one back, before rookie WR Denzel Boston ran a poor route, leading to QB Deshaun Watson throwing an interception and the Titans getting the ball already in scoring position.
Pollard cashed Tennessee’s second drive in for an early 14-0 lead with 8:35 left in the first quarter.
WR KC Concepcion picked his way to a big gain on third down for 23 yards, and a big first down near midfield. That was followed by a big Judkins run, 30 yards, for a first down at the five-yard line. The second-year back put it in the end zone on the next play, pulling the game to 14-7.
Cleveland’s defense finally got a stop on Tennessee’s next drive, forcing a three-and-out. A special teams penalty forced the Browns next stop to start inside the 10-yard line. A drop by Boston on third down forced a Cleveland punt from deep in their own end zone.
2nd Quarter
Titans had moved into scoring position heading into the second quarter, after a 17-yard gain by rookie WR Carnell Tate.
The Browns defense continued to be picked apart, with Pollard seemingly getting the third score of the game, but replay showed that he did not get in. Cleveland’s defense then stiffened up, getting three straight stops, including stopping Pollard short on fourth down, forcing a turnover.
Two quick first downs, on throws to Boston and Concepcion, got the Browns out of the shadow of their own end zone. Then, on another third down, TE Harold Fannin Jr. was fighting for yards after what looked like a catch and proceeded to fumble the ball near midfield. The play was reviewed, but there was not enough evidence to overturn the turnover.
On the next play, CB Denzel Ward picked off QB Cam Ward, giving the Browns offense the ball at the 23-yard line.
Concepcion accounted for 53 yards on two receptions early on the next drive, putting Cleveland in scoring position with under five minutes left in the half. On 4th and 1, the Browns QB sneak kept the drive going (on top of an offsides flag).
A little creativity, a fake to Conecpcion and a handoff to Judkins, led to Cleveland’s second touchdown. An Andre Szmyt extra point tied the game at 14-14.
The Titans offense then went three-and-out, with Ward overthrowing Tate on third down. Giving the Browns the ball back with just under two minutes left. Cleveland had two timeouts, taking over at the 26-yard line.
Tennessee’s punter Tommy Townsend was injured on the punt, which could change the team’s options at fourth down. Townsend walked off the field with a limp.
Watson bought a little time and kept his eyes downfield, hitting Fannin for 21 yards on third and eight. With one timeout, Cleveland had the ball in field goal range before Concepcion’s eighth catch put the ball at the 20-yard line.
With 18 seconds left and the Browns without timeouts, HC Todd Monken called three plays to try to get a touchdown, but instead put the offense in position for a go-ahead field goal by Szmyt.
Cleveland headed into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
3rd Quarter
Based on warmups, the Titans might be without their punter, which would force kicker Joey Sly to punt as well.
The zone read play held Tennessee’s defender enough to help Judkins get a 10-yard gain for the Browns second first down of the second half, pushing Cleveland’s possession near midfield.
OT Tytus Howard left the game during the Browns first possession of the second half. Dawand Jones stepped in as the right tackle as Howard went to the locker room.
Concepcion was wide open deep, but the rookie dropped what looked like it would be a touchdown, leading to another Cleveland punt to start the third quarter. A perfect throw by Watson that should have led to points.
A penalty for too many men on the field as the Titans were looking to punt extended the home team’s first drive of the second half after the defense had looked like they had forced a three-and-out.
CB Tyson Campbell then stripped Tate a few plays later, with S Ronnie Hickman recovering the fumble. Unfortunately, two holding calls on OL Zion Johnson, one accepted and one declined, forced the Browns out of field goal range and into another punt, which rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
Slot corner Myles Harden joined Howard in the locker room, replaced by Mekhi Blackmon, in the middle of the third quarter.
After Ward escaped a ton of pressure to avoid a huge sack, Slye, the Titans kicker, did an admirable job of punting in the place of Townsend, with Tennessee downing the kick inside the 20.
A well-timed and set-up screen to RB Dylan Sampson pushed Cleveland’s next possession to midfield. Sampson, back from injured reserve for the first time this season, looked explosive in picking up 22 yards on the play, which was followed by two Judkins gains (one pass, one run) that combined for 23 yards heading into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Browns were outgaining the Titans 364-203.
Tennessee DT Jeffrey Simmons chased down Watson on a key third down, forcing a field goal attempt that Szmyt pushed right, with a loud doink as part of the miss, keeping the score 17-14.
On the Titans next possession, Pollard was able to find space, despite a strong push by the Browns defense, for a 17-yard gain. On the play, DT Mason Graham limped off the field, but returned a few plays later.
Cleveland’s defense was able to force a field goal attempt, which Slye hit to tie the game at 17-17 with 8:41 left in the game.
Big run gains by Sampson and Concepcion put the Browns in scoring position, with a Watson run on a zone-read adding another touchdown. A Szymt extra point pushed Cleveland’s lead to 24-17 with 4:34 left in the contest.
A strong return to the 37-yard line by Tennessee’s Chimere Dike helped the Titans late fourth-quarter possession start off in good position. Ward missed a wide-open tight end on third and eight late in the fourth quarter, a likely touchdown. On the next play, Ward took a huge hit on fourth down, but another wide-open receiver put the ball in scoring position at the 17-yard line.
At the two-minute warning, Tennessee was down seven points but in position to tie the game in the redzone.
A back shoulder throw to Tate, who was pushed out of bounds at the one-yard line, with Harden in coverage, with just over a minute left. Pollard pushed forward for his third touchdown of the game, with Slye’s extra point tying the game with 58 seconds left.
The Browns offense took the ball, with three timeouts available, at the 31-yard line with 53 seconds left.
A 36-yard catch-and-run by Fannin got the Cleveland offense down to the 19-yard line, with a field goal attempt to win the game. Szmyt hit the 32-yarder for a 27-24.
Join us in the comments, especially with your GIF reactions, to the Browns moving to 5-2 in 2026
