Browns v. Titans

Okay, here we go again. The Rhino is trotting out his bruised ego and will try to do a little better with his prognosticating than he did last weekend.

The Browns host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. On paper, the Titans are just as putrid as the Browns. Like Cleveland, Tennessee is reeling from three straight losses. While the Browns' losses are attributable to several factors, one problem in particular stands out for the Titans: turnovers.

The Titans lead the AFC in turnovers with 17 and have the conference's worst turnover ratio (-8). During their three game skid, Titan turnovers have resulted in 41 total points for the opposition. That number's big enough, but when you consider that the total margin of victory in those games was 27 points, it shows the devastating effect that turnovers have had on the Titans so far this season.

Even though they've been pegged as three point favorites, I don't like the Browns' chances, and I'll tell you why. First, there's the distraction factor. The Browns' needed Reuben Droughns' arrest and the QB controversy this week like they needed a hole in the head. Second, and more importantly, Tennessee's going to almost have to give this game away with turnovers, because the Browns just don't match up well with them. In fact, the areas of the game in which the Titans are the strongest are the ones in which the Browns are the weakest. For instance:

• Cleveland ranks 15th out of 16 teams in the AFC in third down percentage, converting on only 31.6% of its attempts. In contrast, Tennessee's defense ranks 2nd in the AFC and fourth in the NFL on third down percentage. Titans' opponents have converted only 30.4% of all third downs. On 3rd-and-4 or less, Tennessee's opponents are only 10 for 36.

• The Browns need to run the ball against the Titans, but they rank an anemic 13th in the conference, with an average of 92.1 yards per game. In contrast, Tennessee's defense ranks 6th in the AFC against the rush.

• While the Browns struggled in the kicking game last week, the Titans' Pacman Jones is 3rd in the NFL in kick returns with a 28.6 average, while Courtney Roby is 16th with a 24 yard per return average.

Tennessee is vulnerable to the pass, and has given up an AFC leading 17 touchdowns through the air, but you tell me if anything the Browns have done in the past three weeks leads you to believe that they're going to light up anybody's secondary right about now.

Offensively, putting the turnovers aside, Tennessee's been pretty effective passing the ball, ranking 4th in the AFC in both yardage and completion percentage. Their running game stinks, but not as bad as the Pumpkin Helmets' rushing game does.

The Titans are dealing with a number of injuries to key players (9 players sat out practice on Wednesday, including Steve McNair), and they are the youngest team in football. Still, when you look at the numbers, Tennessee isn't as bad a team as their record suggests. I'm not so sure the same can be said for the Browns. Titans 23, Browns 16.

Here's hoping I'm wrong again this week.