3 reasons the Tennesee Titans might not make the playoffs in 2022

1. Ryan Tannehill hasn’t proven he can carry the Titans on his shoulders

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has enjoyed a career revival since replacing an ineffective Marcus Mariota at quarterback in 2019. Since then, Tannehill has made 43 starts and has led Tennesee to three consecutive playoff games and an AFC Championship appearance in his first year at the helm.

A first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2013, Tannehill has proven that he can win games when he’s put in a position to succeed… but that’s the thing! He isn’t the kind of quarterback that will elevate everybody around him like Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, or Russell Wilson. Instead, Tannehill will mostly thrive when conditions are optimal.

Last season, Tannehill wasn’t as efficient when Derrick Henry was injured. Without Henry on the field, opposing defenses no longer needed to stack up the box against the Titans and dared Tannehill to beat him. It’s true that Julio Jones missed time with injuries and without him on the field, teams could zero in on A.J. Brown but Tannehill’s limitations as a passer were exposed.

Without much talent around him, Tannehill showed he’s better suited for a game-manager role, which isn’t a bad thing if you have a well-rounded roster. Just don’t expect to make a deep playoff run if Tannehill doesn’t have optimal talent at his disposal. Brown is now with the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded before this year’s draft and Henry might be a hair slower.