The Cleveland Browns finally won a game this season, taking advantage of the punters on the road against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Still, the spread is only around 1.5 points, which is an indication of how close it will be.
That may come as a bit of a surprise, as the Browns are in first place in the AFC North, having won four of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Titans opened the season on a five-game losing streak and finally got a win over the Indianapolis Colts.
So two Browns players who are a bigger threat than it might first appear are wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who could have big plays on Sunday.
For all its faults, the Titans defense under coach Robert Saleh has pretty much held its own. Tennessee ranks 19th in total defense, but Cleveland has one weakness they can exploit.
The Titans are one of the worst teams in the league at defending opposing wide receivers. Their 83 receptions allowed are the fourth-most and their 1,052 yards are the sixth-most, although the targets against them are the 14th-most.
Jeudy may have turned his season around and his future with the Browns around last week with four catches for 69 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. That included a key 33-yard reception on the game-winning field goal drive.
Now, with new receivers KC Concepcion (calf/quad) and Denzel Boston (foot) dealing with minor injuries, Jeudy may have to play a bigger role. Earlier this season, he was an afterthought in the passing game that led to trade rumors.
Defensively, McNeil-Warren’s snap count has increased in each of the last five games, reaching a season-high 54 against the Ravens after Grant Delpit left the game with a possible concussion and shoulder injury. The second-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft capitalized on the opportunity with a career-high six combined tackles, and he almost had his first NFL catch, but he missed a potential pick-six.
Now, with Delpit listed as questionable, the veteran may be limited, giving McNeil-Warren another chance to make an impact.
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