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Tennessee Titans avoid upset with OT win over Cleveland Browns

By The Sports Xchange
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) went 28 for 39, for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans November 8, 2015. File photo by AJ Sisco/UPI
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) went 28 for 39, for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans November 8, 2015. File photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo

CLEVELAND -- Ryan Succop kicked a 47-yard field goal with 1:55 left in overtime Sunday to give the Tennessee Titans a 12-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

A 54-yard field goal by Browns rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez with 47 seconds left in regulation tied the score 9-9 to force overtime.

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It was a defensive battle from start to finish. The Browns (0-7) shut down the Titans' sixth-ranked running attack and the Tennessee defense made the Browns quarterbacks pay for passing mistakes.

The Titans (4-3) took a 3-0 lead on a 43-yard field goal by Succop on an 11-play drive to open the game. The drive started in promising fashion when quarterback Marcus Mariota connected with wide receiver Rishard Matthews on an 18-yard pass over the middle. DeMarco Murray had carries of 9 and 8 yards, but the drive stalled at the Browns 25.

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The Titans led 6-3 at halftime, but both teams had chances to score more. Succop kicked a 23-yard field goal with 1:37 left in the first half when a Tennessee drive sputtered at the Browns 5.

The Browns, trailing 6-3 after Succop's second field goal, patiently moved downfield with hopes of at least tying the score by halftime but instead came up empty when a pass by rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer sailed over the head of wide receiver Rashard Higgins and was intercepted by Titans free safety Kevin Byard at the Tennessee 7. It was the first of three interceptions for Byard.

The interception was the 10th thrown by Kizer this season. He was benched last week for the game with the Houston Texans in favor of Kevin Hogan. Hogan threw three interceptions and suffered a rib injury, so Browns coach Hue Jackson went back to Kizer, who started the first five games.

Kizer threw an interception on his first pass of the third quarter. Byard got his second pick, but the Titans came up empty when the Browns' defense stopped Tennessee four times inside the Cleveland 5.

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Jackson benched Kizer again. Cody Kessler, 0-8 as a starter last year, moved the Browns from inside the 1 to the Titans 29. Gonzalez kicked a 47-yard field to tie the game 6-6 before Succop hit from 46 yards to put Tennessee back on top 9-6.

Succop missed a 53-yard try wide left with 8:44 to play after the Browns turned the ball over on downs. The Browns took over at their 43 with Kessler still at quarterback, but the drive ended when Kyard intercepted a pass at the Cleveland 14.

NOTES: A hamstring injury made RB DeMarco Murray a game-time decision for the Titans. He started and carried 18 times for 59 yards. Titans K Ryan Succop made four field goals, all inside 50 yards, to run his streak to 54 kicks made inside that distance. ... Browns All-Pro LT Joe Thomas was knocked out of the game with a triceps injury, ending his streak at 10,363 consecutive plays without missing a snap. Starting CB Jason McCourty, leading the Browns with three interceptions, was inactive with an ankle injury. Briean Bodd-Calhoun started in his place.

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