Tennessee Titans Run Defense on Historic Run, Will Need Dominance to Continue Against Browns
The Tennessee Titans finished as the top run defense in the NFL in 2022 and look to have brought that to 2023 out of the gate, allowing only 130 rushing yards through two weeks. The Titans are in the midst of the best 17-game stretch of run defense the NFL has seen since 2007.
The Titans are only allowing 2.9 yards per carry during the stretch, but they will face a Cleveland Browns team on Sunday that is averaging 5.4 yards per carry in 2023. Much of that Browns success came with star running back Nick Chubb in the lineup, but even with Chubb now out with an injury, the Browns' scheme can still create production on the ground and backups Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt are capable.
Part of the reason this rushing offense has been so good is the play calling of head coach Kevin Stefanski, but the other major factor is the Browns' offensive line. One of the league's best units for the last several seasons, the Browns are showing it again in 2023.
The Browns lead the NFL in rushing yards through two weeks with a massive 404 yards total. Averaging over 200 yards on the ground a game is incredibly impressive. The Titans will certainly have to play their best, but they are capable.
In Week 2, the Titans faced a Los Angeles Chargers team that ran for over 200 yards in Week 1 and held them to 61 rushing yards. The Browns certainly are a tougher challenge, but the point is, we have seen this Titans run defense do it before.
If the Titans hope to come out victorious on Sunday one of the keys will be run defense. That means a strength-on-strength battle is about to take place. If the Titans' run defense is the historically good unit they have shown to be, it should be a good sign for the Titans in Week 3.
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- NICK FOLK HONORED: The Tennessee Titans won their Week 2 matchup with the Chargers on the leg of veteran kicker Nick Folk and it was enough to earn him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. CLICK HERE
- TITANS DISGUISED COVERAGES: The Tennessee Titans had an excellent game plan on defense against the Chargers that included disguised and complex coverages. It unlocked the pass rush and got the Titans off the field on big third downs. CLICK HERE
- KELLY'S CREATIVE OFFENSE: The Tennessee Titans new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly has been tremendous through the first two weeks of the season and his ability to create big plays and get the Titans points was on display against the Los Angeles Chargers. CLICK HERE
- UNIQUE BROWNS DEFENSE: The Cleveland Browns defense has been the top unit in the NFL through two weeks and it is led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garret and a familiar face in former Titans defensive Assistant Jim Schwartz. CLICK HERE
