Five things to watch and analyze Sunday, when the Cleveland Browns come off a bye week and play at the reeling Tennessee Titans.
1. The Browns come in thinking they can win. Thinking they should? Probably, yes. They can. And they should. The Titans have been outscored 100-34 over the last three games. They're struggling to find an identity and confidence. They'll get quarterback Jake Locker back after a one-week absence, but that's not exactly cause for a parade. The Browns secondary is reeling and the run defense has continued its 15-year absence, so maybe there's an opportunity for Locker to create big plays. The Browns will have to keep an eye on tight end Delanie Walker and be solid against the run to force Locker into must-pass situations and keep him from getting the play-action game going.
2. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been solid. He appears to be building something with the Browns, something that's maximizing the talent on hand, something that starts with running the ball behind a very good offensive line. Maybe having Jordan Cameron as healthy as he might be all season will help the passing game, but if the Browns keep running well that will keep opening up opportunities for play-action passes and the occasional trick play. Eventually, the Browns will turn the ball over. Eventually, Brian Hoyer will throw an interception. Unitl that happens, though, the Browns will keep themselves in games and have a chance to win them late. With 13 games left, it's exciting to see where this offense might go from here. When's the last time we thought that?
3. Hoyer has been very good, certainly better than most anybody thought five or six weeks ago. He attacked the Ravens in the middle of the field two weeks ago and has emerged as the offense's unquestioned leader. He has plenty to play for and said this week he's thinking big picture and long haul. Well, one really good month of October could change the franchise and his future markedly. We'll see what happens, but Hoyer is playing confidently and smartly and if the Browns are going to win here, they're going to follow their leader.
4. What's new for the Browns coming off the bye? Ben Tate is probably back, and that creates an interesting logjam in the backfield. The special teams have been really bad and there may or may not be personnel changes. The defense probably won't have much in the way of personnel changes but it needs to play better. Locker is athletic enough to make the Browns use caution in blitzing, but the Browns want and need to bring heat. If the Browns can force Locker into mistakes, they can win and have a chance to create real momentum.
5. The Browns haven't won on the road in the recent past. The Browns haven't won much of anywhere in the recent past. As everybody knows -- including the coaches and players, whether they admit it or not -- the schedule goes at Titans, Steelers, at Jaguars, Raiders, Bucs. The Browns are exactly who their record says they are at 1-2, but there's opportunity here. If they can win the turnover battle, block Jurrell Casey and clean up the special teams mistakes, they can win Sunday in Nashville. Where it goes from here should be interesting to watch, but the Browns come into Sundy with a chance they should at least be a team to watch. We'll be watching.
