What Made Tennessee Titans Pass Rush Disappear Against Browns

The Tennessee Titans gave fans reasons to feel good about the pass rush after how Week 6 went. 

The Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts 26-20. Quarterback Daniel Jones was under constant pressure throughout the game. The Titans ended up with six sacks and forced Jones to throw two interceptions. 

Amani Hooker and Cor'Dale Flott recorded the interceptions. Tony Adams and Jacob Martin each had one sack, while Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson got to Jones twice in the game. 

The Titans were feeling good coming off a win like that, especially against a division rival like the Colts. The Titans returned home in Week 8 to take on the Cleveland Browns. 

Deshaun Watson entered the game as the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this season. 

For whatever reason, the Titans weren't able to sack him once on Sunday. He had time to make throws, and it cost the team. 

Watson ended the game with over 300 passing yards and one rushing touchdown. He torched the Titans' secondary by connecting with rookie receiver K.C. Concepcion, who ended his day with 129 receiving yards. 

In one week, the Titans' pass rush vanished without a trace. The Browns have allowed 25 sacks this season, but the Titans made them look like an elite offensive line. 

Head coach Robert Saleh offered an explanation for what happened. 

"There's a lot of things here. I don't think we were up to snuff with regard to our run defense, which has been a strength of ours," Saleh said. "I thought our pass rush lacked a little bit, and then from a coverage standpoint, obviously again it wasn't good enough. It just defensively, especially in the waning moments over there in the fourth quarter, there were moments where things were good, but we gave up too many explosive plays. Weren't good enough in the run game, gave up too many yards after catch. Definitely wasn't our best day." 

A lot went wrong on the defensive side of the ball on Sunday. The Titans let one of the league's worst rushing offenses succeed. 

The Browns came into the game averaging the ninth-fewest rushing yards per game (94). The Browns ended with 183 rushing yards in the win. 

The Titans weren't able to get after Watson, and he was able to find receivers to throw to throughout the game. Even when the Titans' pass rush got to him, they couldn't sack him, and he ran away from the pressure. 

The Titans need to fix this quickly because they face a team in Week 8 who doesn't give up a lot of sacks. The Titans go on the road next to face the Cincinnati Bengals, who rank sixth in fewest sacks allowed this year (10). 

We need to see the Titans' pass rush that was able to sack Jones six different times if this team wants to have a chance to beat the Bengals on the road. 

The Titans are already going to have issues covering Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They don't need to make things easier on Joe Burrow by giving him time to throw. 

Finding the pass rush again should be of the utmost importance for the Titans in Week 8.