Browns comeback is not what it seems.

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Yes, the Browns staged the greatest comeback for a road team in NFL history overcoming a 25 point deficit. And yes, the defense looked great in the second have holding the Titans scoreless. And the offense moved the ball seemingly at will. But the real story about the game is not in the statistics or in the game plans of both teams.

The story is simple. When Titan QB Jake Locker went out of the game with the thumb injury, the game was effectively over.

It seems I am the only one that remembers just how bad a QB Charlie Whitehurst really is. Assuming Locker is going to be out a while, the only hope the Titans have to win games is the 3rd string QB Zack Mettenberger.

Meanwhile the Browns have a ton of issues that must be resolved before they can become a factor in the AFC North.

The biggest one is the defense. The front 7 was pushed around Sunday like a pile of loose dirt by a bulldozer. Often the good but not great O line of the Titans pushed them 6 to 8 yards off the line of scrimmage. That is not acceptable. I did not notice DE Phil Taylor until he went out with an injury.

The D backfield is no better. It looks to me like they are thinking too much rather than having the defense down and reacting to what they see. In the NFL if you take a half a second to think about what you should do, you are done. The NFL game is too fast for those that must think about what to do.

Some of the new D requires a combination of man and zone. The team looked confused as to which side was man and which was zone.

The O was helped by the Titan D letting down after they lost their QB. Make no mistake. QB Brian Hoyer did a remarkable job. But when Locker went down, the air came out of the Titan D. That is the real story behind the big win.

For more information about the game check out the pod cast “Browns Titans review.”

That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.

NOTE: News, Notes and Rumors podcast are BACK. Check out our thoughts on Fridays about the games coming up and Monday on the results of the weekend. My co-host is Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports. Podcasts can be heard on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Thanks for your support.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors podcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

He also edits .

To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.

 

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