The Cleveland Browns (0-6) will battle the Tennessee Titans (3-3) on Sunday afternoon and for both teams it’s a must win for both sides.

For the Tennessee Titans, it’s to prove to people they are improving as a franchise and 2017 is the year they start competing with the top AFC teams. Yes, they’re playing the Browns but these are games rising teams like Tennessee have to take care of if they want to be taken seriously.

As for the Browns, winning this game would relieve a little pressure off the organization.

• 0-6 to start the season
• 1-21 since the Sashi Brown/Hue Jackson regime began
• 4-39 since the 7-4 start to the 2014 season

With the rumors starting to swirl once again that the Haslams are looking to make changes, Jackson needs to find a way to start winning games with the roster Brown has created to prove they both should stick around for a third season, something a regime under Haslam hasn’t even sniffed.

DeShone Kizer is back under center at the quarterback position after being benched for a game and a half. Jackson said Kizer learned a lot during that time on the sidelines and now he gets that opportunity to progress as a quarterback against a poor Tennessee defense.

Team Stats (League Rank)

Offense

Passing: CLE-211.7 ypg (24th), TEN-204 ypg (26th)

Rushing: CLE-96.7 ypg (21st), TEN-132 ypg (5th)

Scoring: CLE-15.7 ppg (31st), TEN-24.3 ppg (11th)

Defense

Passing: CLE-226.3 ypg (17th), TEN-231.2 ypg (19th)

Rushing: CLE-84.3 ypg (6th), TEN-105.8 ypg (16th)

Scoring: CLE-26.2 ppg (27th), TEN-27.3 (31st)

Injuries

Browns

Out: LB James Burgess (knee)

Questionable: WR Kenny Britt (knee/groin), WR Sammie Coates (hamstring), CB Jason McCourty (ankle), S Jabrill Peppers (toe)

Titans

Out: CB Johnathan Cyprien (hamstring), WR Corey Davis (hamstring)

Questionable: LB Derrick Morgan (abdomen), RB Demarco Murray (hamstring), TE Delanie Walker (calf)

Matchup to Watch

Myles Garrett vs Taylor Lewan

Garrett has looked as good as advertised through his first two games with three sacks and applying pressuring on 23% of his snaps although he’s seen limited action in his first two games. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams told reporters on Friday that they’ll turn Garrett loose against Tennessee Titans.

His first tough test in the pros comes against Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan. Voted a Top 100 player in the league by his peers and a Pro Bowler last season, Lewan has been solid since being drafted 11th overall in 2014.

If you like watching the battles in the trenches, get your popcorn ready because this should be a fun one to watch.

Prediction

Going against a team that gives up 27 points per game, you’d think the Browns would have a chance to win this game.

I just don’t see it though.

The Browns are a mess right now and it’s going to be hard for them to dig themselves out of the deep hole they’ve dug.

Marcus Mariota should be 100% recovered from his hamstring injury and expect him to pick on the Browns secondary especially if McCourty doesn’t play.

The one guy on the Titans offense the Browns need to contain is Derrick Henry. The second year back has been a tank in the backfield since his high school days and of course his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Browns haven’t allowed a running back to have over 70 yards this season but Henry might be the one to break that trend.

Kizer will be back at quarterback but the last time he played against a defense this poor (Indianapolis), he threw the ball 47 times and turned it over three times with an interception. The Titans defense does have talent and while they’ve struggled, facing an inaccurate quarterback could be the spark to turnaround their luck.

Titans 31 Browns 13