Browns vs. Titans: Breaking Down Tennessee's Game Plan

There is plenty of blame to go around for the Tennessee Titans' three-game losing streak that has them at 1-3.

The excitement that was generated in the Week 1 upset on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs has completely dissipated.

You would think that there's an opportunity for the Titans to turn this ship around with the Cleveland Browns coming up next, but the Browns have not been an easy out so far this season. They've been competitive in every game and can't be taken lightly.

First and foremost, the Titans have to correct the third-down issues that have them last in the league in conversion rate, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com: 

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Not only do the #Titans have the league's worst third-down offense, the #Raiders have a 7 point edge on them for 31st.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 30, 2014

"

They're struggling in other key categories as well: 

Stat	Total	NFL Rank
Yards Allowed	508	24th
Pass Yards Per Game	207	29th
Points Per Game	15	30th

 Source: ESPN.com

Charlie Whitehurst did the best he could in a tough situation against the Indianapolis Colts, but the Titans need Jake Locker against the Browns to avoid another loss. The Browns secondary, led by Joe Haden, is too formidable to challenge with a career backup quarterback.

Locker is expected to return to practice this week, per John Glennon of The Tennessean (h/t Igor Mello of CBSSports.com).

Even if Locker plays, he won't be 100 percent. He'll need to figure out a way to manage this game and avoid costly turnovers when coveted scoring opportunities arise.

This Titans rushing attack still isn't being used enough, and the team ranks in the bottom half of the NFL in total rushing attempts. With a shaky quarterback situation, the running game has to start taking control. It can't do that if it's not being given the opportunities.

It's been challenging for that to happen in the last two weeks, thanks to early deficits, but I still believe the running game is being abandoned too soon. Dexter McCluster was supposed to be used more as a rusher than he was with the Chiefs. However, that just hasn't happened up to this point.

It's baffling that the Titans rushers aren't being used more, with the yards-per-carry average actually being pretty efficient. Bishop Sankey has an average of over five yards per carry, and Shonn Greene is just under five yards.

This is where the Titans have to take control in Week 5.

Tim Umphrey/Associated Press

It's hard to have much faith in the Titans receiving corps right now. It's been a major disappointment, and now Justin Hunter has been involved in a trade rumor, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean (h/t Marc Sessler of NFL.com). 

I wouldn't put any stock into this rumor, but you still don't want to hear this kind of press about a receiver who hasn't played up to expectations this season. Hunter really needs to bounce back against the Browns.

The Titans defense finally gets somewhat of a break when it comes to opposing quarterbacks with Brian Hoyer coming into town. He's no scrub, but he's certainly not on the level of the previous quarterbacks that the Titans have played.

This is a week that I think this 3-4 Titans defense has to take a step forward. The transition has not been smooth. But the defense has a great chance against a Browns team that doesn't have much with its receivers.

If the Titans contain the rushing trio of Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell and Ben Tate, then this game should get them back on the winning track. I don't see the Browns beating the Titans through the air, even with the struggles of second-year cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson.

Stopping the run early in this game will allow the Titans more opportunities to get pressure on Hoyer and make a defensive statement that they've lacked since Week 1. It won't be pretty by any means, but the Titans win in classic grind-out fashion. An ugly win over the Browns won't be enough to restore much faith in this team, though.

Prediction: Titans 14, Browns 13