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Last game between Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee TitansNashville, TN – Cleveland Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin scored three touchdowns, including a late 50-yard touchdown reception to seal a 28-14 win over the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Benjamin’s three touchdowns all went for at least 50 yards—two on pass receptions and one on a punt return. His game totals included 115 yards on three catches and 154 yards on six punt returns.

In a battle of former Heisman Trophy winners, Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel completed eight of his 15 passes for 172 yards and did not throw an interception.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) gets away from a Cleveland Browns defender during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) gets away from a Cleveland Browns defender during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)

His counterpart, Titans rookie Marcus Mariota, posted a stat line in his second career start that included 21 completions, 257 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 37 attempts. However, the Browns defense harassed Mariota and the Titans offense for much of the day, collecting seven sacks and three turnovers.

The Browns tallied the contest’s first 21 points before the Titans got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter. Miscues and penalties cost the Titans, particularly in the first half, when they lost two fumbles and committed eight penalties. The result was unbalanced field position in favor of the Browns. Their average drive start in the first two quarters was their own 42-yard line, while the Titans started on average at their own 18.

Manziel and Benjamin connected early in the opening quarter to give the Browns a lead they would never relinquish. After the Titans were forced to punt on their initial drive, the duo delighted the sellout crowd with a 60-yard touchdown.

The Browns defense then forced the first turnover of the game. The Titans were moving the ball, but on a rushing attempt by Terrance West, linebacker Karlos Dansby forced a fumble, and cornerback Joe Haden recovered for Cleveland at the 50-yard line.

It took the Browns eight plays to convert the takeaway into points. An 18-yard pass from Manziel to wide receiver Andrew Hawkins helped set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Crowell, and the Titans found themselves in a 14-0 hole less than nine minutes into the contest.

The Titans got a big play on their fourth drive but failed to capitalize on it. Running back Dexter McCluster picked up 44 yards on a run to move into Cleveland territory, but three plays later, quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked and lost the ball. Linebacker Christian Kirksey pounced on it for the Browns.

In the second quarter, the Browns again penetrated Tennessee territory. Duke Johnson rushed for a 20-yard gain, and soon they were at the Tennessee 19. But the Titans defense thwarted the threat, thanks to a fourth-and-one stop on an attempted quarterback sneak by Manziel.

The score remained 14-0 until late in the second quarter, when the Titans were forced to punt from their own 26-yard line. Benjamin fielded Brett Kern’s punt and eluded the coverage team for a 78-yard touchdown return.

In the second half, the Titans defense forced three consecutive punts to provide an opportunity to get back in the game. The offense finally found a rhythm, navigating 67 yards on eight plays, and tight end Anthony Fasano’s 19-yard touchdown reception capped the drive with 1:36 on the clock in the third quarter.

The Titans kept the momentum to begin the fourth quarter, methodically using 15 plays to go 77 yards. Facing a fourth-and-six, Mariota found wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham in the end zone to help shave the deficit to 21-14.

The Browns got the ball back with 6:42 on the clock, hoping to find answers for the Titans defense, which had not allowed a score since the first quarter. That is when Manziel and Benjamin struck for the final time, getting a 50-yard touchdown with 2:52 remaining.

The Titans had one last drive, but it was halted with a fumble by Mariota and a recovery by the Browns.

Box Score

Tennessee Titans 14 at Cleveland Browns 28
Sunday, September 20th, 2015
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Tennessee Titans 0 0 7 7 14
Cleveland Browns 14 7 0 7 28
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