The Browns were trailing late in the first half against the Titans when things unraveled fast. Right tackle Dawand Jones went off-script with a wild decision during a play, throwing not one but two kicks toward a Titans defender. The first missed, but the second connected with the defender’s head. Officials on the field didn’t catch it at first, but New York reviewed the play, confirmed the contact, and issued an automatic ejection for unsportsmanlike conduct. Jones seemed to know he was caught, even before the announcement, and headed to the locker room early.
That one move set off a chain reaction for Cleveland. Backup lineman number 70 stepped in, but on the next drive, he got hurt too. The Browns ended up pulling a guy from arena football to cover right tackle. The reshuffled line couldn’t hold, leading to a safety just before halftime. The Browns never recovered and lost the game. What started as a close matchup turned into a mess for Cleveland once their offensive line started falling apart.