John Nestor

The Cleveland Browns have won two straight games but they will likely need to play their best game of the season to make it three in a row.

The Browns (2-1) host the Tennessee Titans (2-1) with both teams entering the game having won two straight.

Cleveland eked out a 17-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins last week, but weren't particularly impressive in doing it. Quarterback Colt McCoy completed only 19-of-39 passes but did engineer a late 80-yard scoring drive for the win.

The load on McCoy should be lightened a bit this week with the return of running back Peyton Hillis who missed the Dolphins game with strep throat.

Cleveland will want to be able to run the ball, not only so it doesn't ask too much of McCoy, but also to keep the Titans offense on the sideline.

That would be advantagous because Chris Johnson is due to blow up.

After missing camp due to a contract holdout, Johnson is off to a sluggish start this season, rushing for 98 yards on 46 carries (2.1 yards).

That's not the kind of production the Titans are expecting from one of the league's most dynamic backs Tennessee will look to get Johnson going this week against a Cleveland run defense that ranks 29th in the league.

Tennessee is averaging a league-worst 51.7 yards rushing and lucky for the Titans veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been flashing his old form.

Hasselbeck is seventh in the NFL at 300.7 passing yards per game. He will be without top target Kenny Britt, out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the Titans' 17-14 win over Denver last Sunday.

Something will have to give Sunday aside form the matchup of Johnson vs. the Browns run defense. Cleveland is looking for its first 3-1 start in a decade while Tennessee looks to snap a six-game road losing streak that dates to Oct. 18, 2010.

 

NFL 2011 - Cleveland Browns Need to Contain Chris Johnson to Top Titans