NASHVILLE -- The Browns had many heroes in the biggest comeback victory in franchise history as they came from a deficit of 28-3 to win over the Tennessee Titans to improve to 2-2.
The Browns had never overcome a 20-point lead for a win in team history. In Dec. 1966, the Browns trailed the New York Giants 34-14 and went on to win 49-40.
However, of all the heroes, there was none bigger than Travis Benjamin.
The slight wide receiver who has made a name for himself more as a punt returner than a receiver came up big in the receiving department as he caught two touchdowns, including the game-winning score from six yards out from Brian Hoyer with 1:09 left to play to lift the Browns to the win.
Moments earlier, Benjamin caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hoyer to cut the Titans lead to 28-22 with 6:49 to play.
Mike Pettine said he encouraged Benjamin after the muffed punt.
"I grabbed him when he came off after the fumbled punt and said, 'Hey hang in there and if you have a chance to make play, make a play," Pettine said. "It's obvious he lacks confidence in the punt return game.
"To me, he's a microcosm of our team," Pettine said. "Here's a guy that had something bad happen to him and he didn't go in the tank. He rebounds and makes two plays to help us win the game."
Benjamin finished with four receptions for 48 yards, including the two touchdowns. He also had a kickoff return for 20 yards.
The Browns trailed 28-3 in the second quarter after Charlie Whitehurst hit Justin Hunter on a 75-yard touchdown.
Benjamin has struggled this year as a punt returner. Benjamin muffed a punt in the third quarter which was recovered by the Titans at the Browns' 36. However, an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Titans wiped out the turnover.
Benjamin was replaced as the punt returner by Jordan Poyer for the rest of the game. However, when all was said and done, Benjamin came up big with the game on the line.
EXTRA POINTS
Brian's Game: QB Brian Hoyer finished 21-of-37 for 292 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He competed 56.8 percent of his passes and had a 98.0 rating. He was sacked once.
The Browns put up 460 yards on offense.
Killer Penalties: On the first Titans drive, quarterback Jake Locker threw incomplete for Justin Hunter on third-and-9, but cornerback Joe Haden was called for pass interference on Hunter for 29 yards that set up a touchdown to the Browns' 18. Three plays later, Locker hit Kendall Wright for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
On the Titans' second touchdown, the Browns forced an incomplete pass on third-and-7 as Karlos Dansby broke up Locker's pass to Delanie Walker, but Paul Kruger was offside to give Tennessee a second chance. On third-and-2, Locker scrambled 11 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
On the third score, Locker threw incomplete on third-and-7 to Walker, but Buster Skrine hit Locker after he threw the ball for roughing the passer to give the Titans a first down. Earlier on the drive, Skrine was called for holding to give the Titans a first down.
Locker was taken out of the game, but backup Charlie Whitehurst hit Wright for his second touchdown of the game to make it 21-3 in the back corner of the end zone with 3:43 left in the first half. Wright was able to get behind Skrine and Haden on the play.
Ben's Return: Rb Ben Tate returned to the starting lineup with a bang. Tate led the Browns with 123 yards rushing on 22 carries for a 5.6 avg. Tate started at running back, as expected, after practicing all week. Tate was listed as probable on Friday after being limited earlier in the week. He also caught one pass.
RB Isaiah Crowell was the second back in the game and finished with 19 yards on six carries. RB Terrance West had 31 yards on seven carries.
Tate sprained his right knee in the first of the season opening loss against the Steelers after a 28-yard win. Tate had a 6.8 yards per carry average on six carries for 41 yards before leaving the game.
Tate sat out the next two games and rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell split the duties. West leads the team with 204 yards (4.3 avg.) and two touchdowns, while Crowell has 141 yards (5.2 avg.) with three touchdowns.
Tate caught a short pass on the first play for a loss of two yards and then rushed for 15 yards and a first down on his first carry. Tate had 77 yards rushing in the first half on 11 carries and a reception. He finished with yards.
The Browns finished with 175 yards rushing.
First Turnover: QB Brian Hoyer was intercepted in the fourth quarter for the Browns first turnover of the season.
Earlier, Travis Benjamin muffed a punt and Hoyer threw an interception. However, both turnovers were negated by Titans penalties.
Gabriel Leads Receivers: Rookie WR Taylor Gabriel led the Browns with 95 yards on six receptions, including a 49-yard play. WR Miles Austin had three catches for 54 yards, including a 23-yard pass that set up the winning touchdown. TE Jordan Cameron had a 19-yard pass and finished with three receptions for 33 yards. TE Jim Dray caught three passes for 25 yards including a touchdown. WR Andrew Hawkins had three catches for 27 yards.
Big Tank: LB Tank Carder had one of the biggest plays of the game as he broke through and blocked a punt that resulted in a safety when the Browns trailed 28-13 with 11:02 left in the game. Earlier, Carder made a nice tackle on a return at the 10-yard line. The Browns took the free kick and scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-22.
For the Defense: The Browns registered three sacks with one each by LB Jabaal Sheard, DL Armonty Bryant and DB K'Waun Williams. None were bigger than the sack by Williams on the Titans' final drive that secured the win. Williams played in place of DB Justin Gilbert much of the game and had six tackles, including the sack.
LB Karlos Dansby had four tackles.
Taylor Out: DL Phil Taylor left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. CB Joe Haden had a hip injury and was questionable to return, but returned in the third quarter.
Bryant Returns: Desmond Bryant is active and expected to start at right defensive end after being limited all week with a glute/wrist injury. Bryant was questionable on Friday.
Poyer Retrun: DB Jordan Poyer was the first punt returner back in place of WR/KR Travis Benjamin. Poyer caught the ball inside the 10 and lost a yard.
Still Snapping: Also, long snapper Christian Yount will do the snapping duties as he is active and Charley Hughlett is on the practice squad. Mike Pettine said there was a possibility that Hughlett would be activated for the game after competing with Yount last week.
"We challenged him this week and he responded," Pettine said after the game.
Captains: Browns captains were OL Mitchell Schwartz, DL Phil Taylor, DB Tashaun Gipson and TE Jordan Cameron.
Old Friends: Former Browns LB Kamerion Wimbley and LB Quentin Groves play with the Titans. WR Nate Washington played college ball at Tiffin University. RB Bishop Sankey is from Wadsworth.
Defensive coordinator Ray Horton coached the Browns last season, while secondary coach Louis Cioffi, offensive assistant Luke Steckel and offensive line coach Mike Sullivan also be former Browns assistant coaches.
Sitting Out: Inactives for the Browns beside Winston are: DL John Hughes, CB Pierre Desir, DB Robert Nelson, DL Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, WR Rodney Smith and TE Gerell Robinson.
Smith was signed from the Vikings on Friday and WR LaRon Byrd was released.
For the Titans, the inactives are: QB Zach Mettenberger, WR Kris Durham, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, LB James Anderson, OT Byron Stingily, TE Taylor Thompson and DL DaQuan Jones.
