Back in the day, this would have been a classic AFC Central matchup featuring stars like Warren Moon and Bernie Kosar. Then the Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens before another team was created and called the Browns, while the Houston Oilers became the Tennessee Titans and moved to this new weird division called the AFC South. Got all that?
NFL picks and predictions, Browns vs. Titans 2014: Cleveland gets love from experts
Cleveland has a losing record, but it has been competitive in every game heading into Tennessee.
Maddie Meyer
In their current state, the Browns are trying to get off the ground with new head coach Mike Pettine running the show. Pettine chose Brian Hoyer to start at quarterback over Johnny Manziel, and despite a 1-2 mark it seems the right choice. Hoyer has completed 64.2 percent of his passes and thrown three touchdowns without an interception. Unfortunately, the Browns have lost twice on game-winning field goals to the Steelers and Ravens with time expiring.
Tennessee came flying out of the gate under its first-year head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, only to drop the next three games. After demolishing the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to begin the season, the Titans have been blown out by the Cowboys, Bengals and Colts. Jake Locker missed last week with a wrist injury but has returned to face Cleveland in a must-win contest. Falling to 1-4 would likely be a crushing blow to any playoff hopes for Tennessee.
Here at SB Nation, the seven men picking the contest are going with Cleveland, except for one brave man. That man is PFT Commenter, and he is calling a tie in this one.
Over at Sports Illustrated, Don Banks believes the Browns will pull out their second win of the season. Six of the eight NFL analysts at CBS Sports see Cleveland winning on the road, with Jamey Eisenberg and Pete Prisco going with the Titans.
The five guys over at NFL.com are all siding with the Browns except for Chris Wesseling. Of the seven experts at USA Today, the picks are 4-3 Cleveland, with Lorenzo Reyes, Jarrett Bell and Gary Mihoces rolling with the Titans.
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