NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- In the old days, this game between AFC Central rivals would be at the Astrodome and Warren Moon, Bernie Kosar, Haywood Jeffires and Webster Slaughter would be among the cast of characters.

However, the Houston Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns are back in the league as an expansion team after a three-year absence.

Rookie quarterback Tim Couch, the first overall pick in the draft, will make his first career start today for the Browns. Couch replaces Ty Detmer, who was benched after completing just 6-of-13 passes for 52 yards in last week's embarrassing 43-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Couch saw mop-up duty in the fourth quarter against the Steelers but failed to complete a pass, going 0-for-3 with an interception in his NFL debut.

The Titans will have a different signal caller of their own after learning that Steve McNair has a ruptured disc in his back and will be out six weeks.

A double threat as a runner and passer, McNair has started the last 34 games, the fourth longest streak among current signal callers behind Green Bay's Brett Favre (110), Tampa Bay's Trent Dilfer (65) and Miami's Dan Marino (42).

Neil O'Donnell, signed as a backup in July, will start today's game.

McNair threw for a career-high 341 yards and Al Del Greco kicked a 33-yard field goal with eight seconds left to lift the Titans to a 36-35 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in their opener last week. The Titans have won seven straight division contests.

The Browns were thoroughly dominated by the Steelers in their opener.

The Steelers had 460 total yards to 40 for the Browns, held Cleveland to just two first downs and controlled the ball for 47:49 compared to 12:11 for the Browns. Pittsburgh ran 88 offensive plays and had 32 first downs while Cleveland ran just 28 offensive plays.

Pittsburgh rushed for 213 yards and held Cleveland to nine yards on the ground.

Chris Palmer of the Browns suffered the worst loss for a coach making his debut since Weeb Ewbank of the Baltimore Colts absorbed a 48-0 loss to the Rams in 1954. Palmer spent three seasons as the Houston Oilers' receivers coach from 1990-92.

The Browns lead the series, 30-21. The then-Houston Oilers posted a 37-10 victory in Cleveland in the last meeting between the teams on November 5, 1995.

CLEVELAND Season schedule and results

TENNESSEE Season schedule and results

September 12 Pittsburgh L 0-43 September 19 @Tennessee 4:15pm ET September 26 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET October 3 New England 1:00pm ET October 10 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET October 17 @Jacksonville 1:00pm ET October 24 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET October 31 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET November 7 Baltimore 1:00pm ET November 14 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET November 21 Carolina 1:00pm ET November 28 Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 5 @San Diego 4:15pm ET December 12 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET December 19 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET December 26 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET

September 12 Cincinnati W 36-35 September 19 Cleveland 4:15pm ET September 26 @Jacksonville 4:05pm ET October 3 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET October 10 Baltimore 4:15pm ET October 17 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET October 31 St. Louis 1:00pm ET November 7 @Miami 8:20pm ET November 14 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET November 21 Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET November 28 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET December 5 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET December 9 Oakland 8:20pm ET December 19 Atlanta 1:00pm ET December 26 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET January 2 @Pittsburgh 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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