Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans: Complete Week 5 Preview for Tennessee

The Tennessee Titans come into Week 5 hoping that an easier opponent gives them a chance at victory. The Cleveland Browns, like the Titans, have only one win. The Browns have also been one of the NFL's consistent losers, usually finishing near the bottom of the pack.

This year, however, the Browns have looked better. They may only have one win, but their losses to Pittsburgh and Baltimore were both by less than a touchdown.

The Titans, on the other hand, were handed one-sided defeats in all three of their losses. It doesn't help that the Browns are coming off of a bye week.

Both teams are looking to salvage a season by getting a second win, but only one will. This will be the Titans' first in a string of games against weak opponents, so if they don't capitalize now, they may as well throw in the towel.

Here's a preview of the upcoming game.

Week 4 Recap

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Another week, another horrendous defeat for the Titans.

The Indianapolis Colts struck early and never let off the gas. Despite forcing a punt of the Colts' first possession, the Titans defense was unable to hold the Colts when a Kendall Wright fumble gave them the ball at the 38-yard line.

A surprise onside kick put the Colts up by two scores on the next drive. After that, the Titans offense was unable to answer, and Indianapolis added to its lead with a field goal. The Titans made the score 10-20 before halftime, but when the game resumed it was all Colts.

Andrew Luck threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns as the Colts cruised to a 41-17 victory, and the Titans fell to 1-3.

News and Notes

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Bernard Pollard made news with some rough words about the Titans. Per ESPN.com, Pollard said that he wouldn't root for the Titans with the way they've played and doesn't blame fans for not supporting the team.

Pollard has a reputation for being blunt off the field. And here, even though many may not like what he has to say, I think he's absolutely right in what he's saying. The Titans have been bad, and while it may not be the politest thing to say in the world, it shows that the Titans, or at least Pollard, are taking responsibility for their record.

I'm all for staying positive, but I also think teams need to be realistic about where they are, and the Titans are in a bad place.

That doesn't mean things can't or won't get better for the team; it just reflects where it is at the moment. Pollard's comments tell me that the Titans are aware of how they are perceived as a team. Hopefully, it also indicates that they don't like that perception and will work to change it in the coming weeks.

Injury Report

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Player	Position	Status
Jake Locker	QB	Probable
Taylor Thompson	TE	Questionable
Delanie Walker	TE	Questionable

Jake Locker looks to return to action against the Browns. He wasn't looking very good in the previous games he played, but he probably gives the Titans a better chance to win than Charlie Whitehurst does.

If Delanie Walker misses a game, it'll be bad for Tennessee. He's been, by far, the most effective weapon for both Locker and Whitehurst. He's also a great asset in the end zone, since he causes so many matchup problems for opposing defenses.

Taylor Thompson is the third tight end on the depth chart, but with Walker questionable and Craig Stevens being mostly a blocker, he's an important depth piece.

Thompson needs to be able to play to take some of the pressure off of Walker and to keep him fresh.

*All injuries taken from ESPN's injury report page for Tennessee.

X-Factor and Matchups to Watch

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Titans Defensive Backs vs. Browns Receivers

Tennessee's defensive backs have not been playing well. Even Jason McCourty has seemed a step slower than usual after his groin injury.

Luckily for the Titans, the Browns are having some problems at wide receiver. Their leading receivers for the season so far have been former Cincinnati Bengals depth player Andrew Hawkins and Miles Austin, who the Dallas Cowboys just released.

That ought to be a matchup the Titans defensive backs win. If they can't win against Cleveland's receivers, they can't win against anyone.

Jake Locker vs. Browns Defense

The Browns are currently ranked 27th against the pass and 29th against the run. The Titans have a very good running game and should be able to move the ball against the Browns, but the question is Locker.

Locker looked great in the season opener and terrible since. There are only a handful of teams which, on paper, would be easier to throw against than the Browns, so if Locker can't get some confidence back against them, he'll certainly be playing his last year in Tennessee.

X-Factor: Wesley Woodyard

Ben Tate looks like he may play against the Titans, per ESPN.com's Pat McManamon. The Titans have been weak against the run, and with the weak receivers the Browns bring, Tate ought to be the defense's focus if he plays.

Woodyard was fantastic against Jamaal Charles in Week 1, but he has been a terrible run-supporter since then. If he can keep Tate locked down, then the defense might be able to make up for lost time.

Prediction

David Kohl/Associated Press

The Titans really should win this one. The Browns defense hasn't been great, and their offense doesn't create the kind of problems that the Titans have had issues with.

With no quick receiving options, the Titans pass rush will finally have some wiggle room to be effective. And the Titans do have a very good pass rush; they've just rarely been in a situation where they can effectively utilize it.

The Titans also should be able to run the ball more often against the Browns, since the Browns offense isn't nearly as good as that of the Bengals or Colts, and an early deficit seems unlikely for Tennessee.

Still, the Browns are no pushover and could definitely win the matchup coming off of a rest week.

If Tennessee is patient and uses its strengths to its advantage (i.e., if head coach Ken Whisenhunt finally realizes that he ought to be giving Bishop Sankey carries early in the game), I'm confident that the Titans will come out on top.

Prediction: Titans 24, Browns 21