Browns defense pressure, beat up Mariota in Titans loss

-QB Marcus Mariota suffered an ankle injury but the Titans rookie did not miss a play.

Mariota finished the game 21-of-37 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but also lost two fumbles for the Titans, who turned the ball over three times. Just after the two-minute warning, Travis Benjamin took it to the house, returning a punt 78 yards for a touchdown. Manziel came off the bench last week and threw one TD but had three turnovers.

Raise your hand if you expected to read that a month ago. “We understood that going in”. Afterward he said the ankle felt fine. I wonder if that comes from one of his limitations, which is his height (he’s just 6-foot tall) and inability to see downfield.

Mariota threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano in the third quarter and his 13-yard strike – on fourth down – to rookie Dorial Green-Beckham with 6:42 left brought the Titans within 21-14. This touchdown was Mariota’s sixth of his career, which tied Dan Marino for the most touchdowns in a quarterback’s first two starts.

The Browns had 18 receptions for 231 yards, but will need to find a way to get some scoring production from its WRs if its backfield remains unproductive. He was constantly under duress, and unlike last week against the Buccaneers, Mariota showed his inexperience by trying to do too much.

Now Mariota knows what all analysts have said.

The defense sacked Mariota seven times and had an interception wiped out by a penalty.

Manziel said he’s exclusively focused on this week’s game and isn’t anxious about potentially making a claim for Cleveland’s starting job.

“It was a roller-coaster National Football League game”, said Pettine. But, sadly there is a second half in pro football. He talked about it being “a long way since January 17”, referring to the day he went into a rehabilitation center to deal with his addiction problems. Tennessee’s defense isn’t formidable but Manziel should continue to struggle.

The Browns’ question going forward is this: Does this game portend a future for Manziel as the Browns’ main man? Tennessee, however, has veteran placekicker Ryan Succup, who was 19-of-22 in field goals past year and punter Brett Kern, who averaged 47 yards a punt in the opener. “I think it’s cool”.

After preventing the Titans from picking up a first down during the game’s opening possession, the Browns struck right away.

“Things didn’t go our way”, Whisenhunt said. “But it’s not surprising, knowing what we know about the kid and how dedicated he is to the sport and how much he put into it and prepared”. “At least we fought in the second half and have something we can build off”. Benjamin racked up 214 all-purpose yards in the first half. Tennessee fell to 2-14 last season still is an improved team now in its 2nd season under head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who took the Arizona Cardinals, of all teams, to the Super Bowl a number of seasons back. He will undergo an MRI on Monday…. In receiving, Kendall Wright caught five times for 101 yards and one touchdown and Delanie Walker caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.