How the Browns Managed Huge Comeback Win Against Titans

The Cleveland Browns found themselves in familiar territory Sunday against the Tennessee Titans: in a significant halftime deficit.

The Browns were down 28-10 at halftime and at one point trailed a miserable 28-3. They gave up one passing and one rushing touchdown to starting Titans quarterback Jake Locker and, after Locker left the game with a wrist injury, two passing touchdowns to backup Charlie Whitehurst.

It looked as though the Browns couldn't accomplish anything, particularly on defense. They allowed 284 total yards of Titans offense in the first half, while Cleveland could only rack up 182 yards of its own—91 passing and 91 rushing. 

In the first half, the Titans were 4-of-5 on third down and were averaging 6.3 yards per rush. Tennessee receivers Kendall Wright and Nate Washington both caught every pass thrown to them, while Justin Hunter caught three of four and had a backbreaking 75-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

However, the Browns found themselves in another familiar place. They rallied in the second half, ultimately defeating the Titans 29-28 and bringing their record to 2-2 through four games. It was, as quarterback Brian Hoyer said after the game, per Browns reporter Daryl Ruiter on Twitter, "a complete, total team win."

Two things happened in the second half to tip the scales in Cleveland's favor: The defense stiffened, and the offense found a rhythm. The Browns defense allowed just 97 passing yards in the second half, while the offense put up 278 total yards. Hoyer threw two touchdowns, both to receiver Travis Benjamin. Special teams also earned two points on a safety from a blocked Titans punt. 

All told, the Browns put up 26 unanswered points, with the Titans left scoreless in the second half. It was the Browns' biggest comeback victory in franchise history and the largest comeback win by a road team in NFL history. It also snapped their seven-game road losing streak.

Mike Stewart/Associated Press

Every game this season has seen the Browns struggle in the first half only to turn it around and keep it close in the second. In Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns had just three points at halftime; they put up 24 more in the second half, losing to the Steelers by three points via a last-second field goal.

In Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, the Browns had 16 points at the half, increasing that to 26 in their own last-second field-goal victory. And in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, the Browns went from seven first-half points to 21 to end the game, ultimately losing by two.

The Browns have a lot of experience not giving up after poor first halves of football. As head coach Mike Pettine said after the defeat of the Titans, other teams may throw in the towel when faced with these deficits. The Browns do not and have not at any point so far in their young season.

In fact, playing from behind and closing the gap seems to be the Browns' signature this season. Hoyer's strategy for managing this is twofold. One: Don't look at the scoreboard.

The other? This.

That's what the Browns did Sunday. Storm? Present and weathered. Hang around? The Browns certainly did that, scoring points while the Titans offense floundered. Win it at the end? Benjamin's second touchdown of the game came with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter. A defensive stand then did the rest.

It might not be the ideal way to play a football game—indeed, the Browns would be much happier with a significant halftime lead to protect rather than a significant halftime deficit to dig out of. And it would undoubtedly be better for Pettine's peace of mind; he joked after the win he may need to get his heart checked after so many games playing from behind.

But the Browns know how to keep games close. They know how to adjust at halftime and how to rally. They know how to keep morale high. And they know that they have what it takes to win, even in dire situations.

It wasn't just dumb luck or the Titans suddenly falling flat. This win, like the Browns' other three close games, proves the club can persevere. And that was the secret to their win Sunday.