TENNESSEE TITANS
2021 Record - 12-5-0
Head Coach - Mike Vrabel
New Additions - Robert Woods (WR), Austin Hooper (TE), Da'Shawn Hand (DL), Jamarco Jones (OL)
2021 Offensive Rank - 17th (343 YPG); Scoring - 15th (24.6 PPG)
2021 Defensive Rank - 12th (330 YPG); Scoring - 6th (20.8 PPG)
Ryan Tannehill is the starting quarterback and he enters his 11th season in the NFL. Last year, he passed for 3,734 yards with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also scored seven rushing touchdowns and gained 270 yards (4.9 YPC average) and will have rookie Malik Willis (Liberty) backing him up. Running back Derrick Henry missed significant time last season with a foot injury, but still gained 937 rushing yards (4.3 YPC) and scored ten touchdowns. Dontrell Hilliard (350, 6.3 YPC, two TD) and rookie Hassan Haskins (Michigan) will provide depth in the backfield. The wide receivers include Robert Woods (45 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns with the L.A. Rams), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (38, 476, four TD) and rookies Treylon Burks (Arkansas) and Kyle Phillips (UCLA). The tight ends are Austin Hooper, who had 38 receptions for 345 yards and three scores with Cleveland last year, and Geoff Swaim, who had 31 grabs for 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Titans have Denico Autry (nine QB sacks) at defensive end and tackles Teair Tart and Jeffery Simmons. The linebackers are Harold Landry III (75 tackles, including a team high 12 sacks), Zach Cunningham, Bud Dupree and David Long, Jr. (two interceptions). In the secondary is safety Kevin Byard, who led the team with 88 tackles last season and also had five interceptions. Amani Hooker is the other safety and the corners are Kristian Fulton (two picks) and Caleb Farley. Rookie Roger McCreary (Auburn) is another option at cornerback along with Elijah Molden, who had one interception last year.
Outlook for 2022 season - The Titans had the top record in the AFC in 2021, but bowed out quickly in the playoffs, losing a squeaker to the surprising Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. Head Coach Mike Vrabel knows that was a big disappointment and will look for the team to do better this season.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill put up typical numbers last year and had more pressure with the running game missing All-Pro Derrick Henry for a good chunk of the regular season. The Titans did finish fifth overall (141 YPG) in that area, but opposing teams didn't seem to fear the ground and pound attack of the Titans with Henry out of action. As long as he is good to go in 2022, look for him to get many carries again to help ease the pressure on Tannehill and company in the passing game.
The defense was good and ranked number two in the league against the run while allowing just under 21 points per game. The Titans also had 43 sacks and 16 interceptions last season. With a tough schedule staring at them this season, the Titans will have all they can handle as well as the Indianapolis Colts looking to challenge them in the AFC South chase. Beating their divisional foes (5-1 vs. AFC South opponents in 2021) will go a long way again to getting back to the playoffs for Tennessee, but they know they want to get further than they did last year.
It's not likely the Titans will get to the Super Bowl, but the Cincinnati Bengals showed what can happen when a team gets hot at just the right time. So the sky could be the limit for the Titans as they enter the 2022 season. Now they just have to go out on the field and prove it.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Two - at Buffalo
Week Three - vs. Las Vegas
Week Four - at Indianapolis
Week Five - at Washington
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. Indianapolis
Week Eight - at Houston
Week Nine - at Kansas City
Week Ten - vs. Denver
Week Eleven - at Green Bay
Week Twelve - vs. Cincinnati
Week Thirteen - at Philadelphia
Week Fourteen - vs. Jacksonville
Week Fifteen - at L.A. Chargers
Week Sixteen - vs. Houston
Week Seventeen - vs. Dallas
Week Eighteen - at Jacksonville
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