Turns out, Super Bowls aren't won in the offseason. Or in May. Or whenever all those nonsense Browns rumblings began.
Because as Week 1 kicked off and actual football commenced, this happened:
TITANS DEFENSE FEELING DANGEROUS pic.twitter.com/9SXO1bY8qE
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 8, 2019
And some flat-out Browns stuff like this:
#Browns LT Greg Robinson has been ejected for kicking #Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/yXqfrMtxnT
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2019
But no matter how many lowlights from Baker Mayfield and company I show you, nothing will compare to Titans tight end Delanie Walker postgame.
Check it:
Delanie Walker channeled his inner Dennis Green when asked about the Browns after their big win. pic.twitter.com/ugv6w7MiXA
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 8, 2019
He said that. He really went there. And it was deserved. Because after an opening-game touchdown drive, the Browns were annihilated in all facets of the game, despite all. that. hype.
Mayfield finished 25 for 38 for 285 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Marcus Mariota tossed three touchdowns against zero picks on the other side. The Titans also recorded a safety. And the Browns rang up 18 penalties for 182 yards for good measure.
Total beatdown, 43-13. It's just one week, but somehow Cleveland keeps inventing ways to disappoint its fans early in the 2019 NFL season.
... And that's where the fun ends for the rest of the AFC North. Because heading south to Miami, the Ravens steamrolled the Dolphins, 59-10.
They took a 42-10 lead into the half, largely because of second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson.
His final line: 17 for 20, 324 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions. That's a perfect passer rating, and he was stoked about it:
When you become the first QB in Ravens history to finish a game with a perfect passer rating 😈😈 @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/fLfdR2M64G
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 8, 2019
Perhaps more exciting for Ravens fans, Jackson had just three carries for six yards, proving he could sit in the pocket and sling passes all over the field. Not a bad day for the men in purple.
Cincinnati traveled to Seattle and was edged out, 21-20. Andy Dalton had career highs in attempts (51) and yards (418) and threw two touchdowns, both to John Ross, but the Bengals lost three fumbles and could not establish a running game. The Seahawks got two touchdown passes from Russell Wilson and a rushing score from Chris Carson, and their defense sacked Dalton four times to earn the victory. The Steelers host the Seahawks next Sunday, September 15, in their home opener.
The Steelers, of course, faced the Patriots on Sunday Night Football and were manhandled 33-3. Dejan Kovacevic, Dale Lolley and Matt Sunday have all your coverage from Foxborough, Mass.
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