Browns' defense gets a win this time, 20-14

While Cleveland's defense throttled the Titans, the offense finally came through.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- For the sixth-straight game, the Cleveland Browns defense held their opponent to fewer than 20 points.
But unlike four of the five past results, the Browns walked off windswept Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday with a hard-earned victory.
"We shouldn't have given up that many," linebacker Andra Davis said after the Browns defeated Tennessee, 20-14. "On their two touchdowns, they were just great calls against our defense. It was a chess match and they won those two."
Defense delivers
That's about all the Titans won. The Browns defense limited the Titans to 98 yards rushing on 24 carries. Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair passed for 235 yards, but only 124 of them came in the first three quarters.
"They have been feisty all year and they continue to hang in there and make plays," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "They gave up a couple of touchdowns today, which is uncharacteristic of us. We have to tighten that up and get that straightened out."
The Titans tied the score at 7 late in the second quarter, when McNair hit tight end Erron Kinney with a 24-yard touchdown pass.
The score came two plays after Titans punt returner Lamont Thompson returned a Kyle Richardson punt 31 yards to the Tennessee 46.
Their other points came in the fourth quarter when Chris Brown scored on a 15-yard run.
Four scoring drives
The Titans were unable to overcome four scoring drives by the Browns, their most since their 20-10 win over the Bears on Oct. 9.
Quarterback Trent Dilfer made three big pass completions that helped score 17 points. Those plus a 23-yard run by running back Reuben Droughns on a third-and-16 play in the third quarter were the difference in the Browns producing their first win since Oct. 9.
"The third-and-16 was a backbreaker for us," Titans (2-7) coach Jeff Fisher said.
Two plays later, Droughns took screen pass 51 yards to the Tennessee 9 to set up Cleveland's second touchdown for a 17-7 lead.
Droughns rushed 20 times for 116 yards (season high) and caught four passes for 73 more. His performance came six days after he was arrested on a DUI charge.
"What happened last week happened and I can't worry about it -- it didn't motive me at all," Droughns said. "I put that aside."
Linebacker Brad Kassell said the Titans "did a good job of stopping him in the first half, but not the second."
Dilfer connects
Dilfer had two other long completions -- a 58-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dennis Northcutt in the first quarter and a 49-yard completion to wide receiver Antonio Bryant in the third quarter.
Dilfer threw the ball nearly 40 yards to Northcutt who eluded cornerback Reynaldo Hill for the Browns' first score.
"We went into this game and said, 'You know what? Let's go out and toss it around. Who cares if you are covered. I will throw it up and you make a play,' " Dilfer said. "I think that freedom of attitude helped."
williams@vindy.com