NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans proved they don’t quit no matter how far behind they are.
Fixing the problems that resulted in their biggest halftime deficit of the season are crucial if they want to win a division title for the first time since 2008.
The Titans started so slowly Sunday afternoon that they trailed by 31 points at halftime, and scoring four touchdowns in the second half just wasn’t enough in a 41-35 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
“It’s tough when you spot 30 points and you’re playing from behind, especially in this league,” running back Derrick Henry said of the 38-7 halftime deficit. “It’s hard to win when that margin is that large.”
The Titans (8-4) snapped a two-game winning streak that had put them back atop the AFC South standings. Now they’re tied with the Indianapolis Colts, though Tennessee has the divisional tiebreaker.
Tennessee started well enough, forcing Cleveland (9-3) to kick a field goal on the opening drive.
The Titans had driven to the Browns’ 42 when things took a bad turn for the hosts. Ryan Tannehill threw incomplete on third-and-1 to backup offensive lineman Aaron Brewer. Henry was marked down shy of the marker on fourth-and-1, though it appeared he had picked up the first down. Coach Mike Vrabel lost his challenge of the spot.
“I hold myself to a high standard and should have got that first down,” Henry said. “Left it in their hands to spot the ball, to make it short.”
AP photo by Wade Payne / Tennessee Titans wide receiver Cameron Batson keeps his feet in bounds as he catches a touchdown pass while getting hit by Cleveland Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell in the second half of Sunday’s game in Nashville.The Browns, starting at their own 41, drove for their first touchdown.
On the first play of the Titans’ next possession, the NFL’s rushing leader coming into the game was stopped for a 3-yard loss and stripped of the ball. It was Henry’s first fumble of the season and only the sixth turnover of the year for Tennessee, which came in as the best team in the league in that category.
A Tennessee offense that came in fifth in points and eighth in total yards also went three-and-out twice after that fumble. Then the Titans coughed it up again.
Wide receiver Corey Davis, who had a career day with 11 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, said the trouble came from within.
“A lot of times we were getting out of character, yapping and talking to the other team, and we were getting dumb penalties that we didn’t really need,” Davis said. “We were just out of character. We eliminate the self-inflicted wounds and then we’re able to move the ball, because we have the talent to do it.”
Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield threw for 290 yards and four touchdown in the first half alone as the Browns held the ball for more than 21 minutes. The Titans also had four of their five penalties in the opening half.
“Bad communication, bad execution,” Tennessee safety Kevin Byard said. “You go out there and play like that, you (get) your behind whipped.”
Henry said the Titans gave themselves a chance in the second half.
“Nobody gave up. We kept fighting. Just came up short,” he said. “But I just know I have to be better. I pride myself being a leader on this team, and definitely this one stung. Felt like I didn’t do my job the way I needed to. Have to be better, tremendously.”
The Titans outscored the Browns 28-3 in the second half, starting with back-to-back touchdowns within the first six minutes. Then, with Tennessee down 41-21 late in the third quarter, Tannehill’s pass went off Adam Humphries to M.J. Stewart for an interception at the Browns’ 9.
“The interception kind of put a halt to the momentum that we had building there in the second half and really just cost us just the time and the not being able to score,” Vrabel said. “Everything has got to be perfect. Everything would’ve had to have been right. It rarely ever is in football and in life.”
Tannehill, sacked three times, was 29-of-45 for 389 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. A.J. Brown had four catches for 87 yards, and tight end Anthony Firkser had five for 51. Tennessee cornerback Malcolm Butler made eight tackles, seven of them solo stops, but the Titans were held without a sack as they put little pressure on Mayfield.
With the Titans playing from behind, they were unable to use Henry in the workhorse role that had helped them to back-to-back road wins against the Baltimore Ravens and the Colts. Henry had a season-low 15 carries for 60 yards, his first time in four games he had not reached 100 rushing yards.
Cleveland’s Mayfield threw for a season-high 334 yards as his team matched its best start since 1994.
“Baker was on fire,” said Browns running back Chubb, who rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries, including a touchdown. “That’s the guy that I know. That’s the guy that the Cleveland Browns know who he is. He came out, had a great game and led us to a victory.”
Rashard Higgins had six catches for 95 yards, Jarvis Landry had eight for 62 and Donovan Peoples-Jones’ two catches included a 75-yard touchdown to help the NFL’s longest active playoff drought move closer to ending after 18 seasons.
“I think people know we are a good team now when we play well,” Chubb said, “and that’s what we did today.”