Tennessee Titans are proving that last year was not a fluke
The Tennessee Titans are proving beyond doubt that they are for real.
Last season, the Tennessee Titans entered the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 6 seed and left as runners-up to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Playoff upsets over the then-defending champion New England Patriots and eventual league MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens propelled the Titans to their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1999 when they advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV, their last appearance in the big game.
Fast forward to 2020, and the Titans are 2-0 and picking up steam right where they left off last season. Derrick Henry is running with a purpose. Ryan Tannehill looks rejuvenated after winning Comeback Player of the Year. And Jadeveon Clowney is making his presence felt on the defensive side of the football. In total, a realization has come to fruition.
The Titans are here to stay and they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson have done a good job of identifying talent late in the draft and finding players who fit their scheme of a physical albeit fast football team.
Both sides of the ball for the Tennessee Titans are built to win.
Offensively, besides Henry and Tannehill, the Titans have a vast arsenal of playmakers in wide receiver A.J. Brown, whose reliability has been instrumental to the team’s success, and Adam Humphries, who has been a good slot receiver.
Tight end Jonnu Smith is known for making big catches and big plays, which is key for an offense that is based upon running the football. Smith is also showing what he learned from former tight end Delanie Walker as he’s seemingly taken a step forward in 2020.
Defensively, trading Jurrell Casey to Denver may hurt but linebacker Rashaan Evans has stepped up into a major role as a leader. Kevin Byard, whose playmaking ability is key considering the quarterbacks in the division, has done the same. And second-year pro Jeffery Simmons looks like a stud to replace Casey on the line.
Though the special teams unit has struggled early on, they have come through in the key situations, especially in a Week 1 win on Monday Night Football in Denver.
Next. NFL picks, score predictions for Week 3. dark
The Titans made sure that people remembered them last season. And so far this year, that message is still resonating with those outside of the Music City.