In Week 9 the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will come off their bye week to host the Tennessee Titans on “Sunday Night time Soccer”.
Tennessee handed the Chiefs their worst lack of the 2021 season, dominating them from begin to end with a 27-3 ultimate rating. The Titans acquired off to an 8-2 begin and seemed to be the strongest crew within the AFC, however stumbled a bit down the stretch, going 4-3 of their ultimate seven video games.
Their 12-5 general report was nonetheless ok to safe the No.1 general seed within the AFC. Many individuals labeled the Titans as one of many weakest No. 1 seeds in current reminiscence. Sadly, for Tennessee, that was confirmed proper after going one-and-done within the playoffs, dropping to the Cincinnati Bengals within the divisional spherical.
The Titans misplaced a trio of former Professional Bowlers from their offense this offseason in receivers A.J. Brown, Julio Jones, and guard Rodger Saffold. To revive their ailing extensive receiving corps, Tennessee traded for Robert Woods and drafted Treylon Burks within the first spherical.
Defensively the Titans will return most of their starters from 2021. They misplaced cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who performed properly final season, however they changed him with second-round choose Roger McCreary who they’re very excessive on.
Let’s check out a number of the Titans’ key gamers and their outlooks heading into the common season:
QB Ryan Tannehill
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Tannehill is getting into his tenth NFL season and his fourth because the Titans’ beginning quarterback. In 2021, he had his lowest landing passing whole in 4 seasons with 21 and threw the second-most interceptions of his profession with 14. He can nonetheless make performs along with his legs, nevertheless, speeding for 270 yards and 7 touchdowns final season.
Tannehill’s inconsistencies led to the Titans drafting quarterback Malik Willis within the third spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft. Barring an incredible coaching camp and preseason, Willis will probably spend his rookie season as Tannehill’s backup. With the arrival of Willis and the Titans having a possible out on Tannehill’s contract after the 2022 season, this may very well be his final 12 months in Tennessee.
RB Derrick Henry
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Henry was by far and away main the NFL in speeding in 2021 earlier than breaking a bone in his foot, costing him the ultimate 9 video games of the season. He returned for the Titans’ postseason sport towards the Bengals however wasn’t very efficient, averaging simply three yards per carry. He’ll be a full go for coaching camp and may see one other heavy workload for Tennessee in 2022.
Henry has been the definition of a workhorse, averaging 300 carries per season from 2018-2021. Throughout that point he led the NFL in speeding yards and touchdowns twice. Henry gained NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months in 2020 after speeding for a career-high 2,027 yards. He’s additionally a two-time All-Professional and Professional Bowl choice.
Guard Taylor Lewan
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A former first-round choose in 2014, Lewan has been the most effective guards within the NFL for a few years. In his profession, he has blocked the way in which for 2 AFC speeding yards leaders (DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry) and has been named to the Professional Bowl thrice.
Sadly, Lewan has been on a string of dangerous luck, not having performed a whole season since 2017. In 2019, he was suspended for 4 video games after failing a drug take a look at for a banned substance and in 2020 he tore his ACL, costing him 11 video games.
OLB Harold Landry III
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The Titans locked Landry up this offseason to a five-year, $87.5 million contract extension. He earned it after having a breakout 2021 season the place he recorded 12 sacks, 21 QB hurries and 75 whole tackles, all profession highs.
Landry additionally earned the primary Professional Bowl nod of his profession in 2021. His 3,187 snaps performed is probably the most by an edge rusher within the NFL since 2019. Landry’s mixture of quickness and arm size makes him one of the crucial athletic outdoors linebackers within the league.
S Kevin Byard
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Byard has quietly been the most effective safeties within the NFL throughout his six-year profession. He’s a two-time All-Professional and two-time Professional Bowler and he led the league in interceptions in 2017 with eight. He could also be coming off the perfect season of his profession in 2021, incomes a 90.5 grade from Professional Soccer Focus, the best amongst all defensive backs.
Byard allowed a completion charge of simply 51.7 p.c and a passer ranking of 68.7 when focused final season. He additionally notched team-highs in tackles (88) and interceptions (5), whereas additionally including 13 cross break-ups and two defensive touchdowns.
Coaching camp storylines
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The Titans are in massive want of playmakers within the passing sport. They’ve one of the crucial unproven receiving corps within the league and though they signed tight finish Austin Hooper this offseason, Hooper has been on a downward pattern the final two seasons. It begins with Robert Woods, who has been a constant and considerably under-the-radar receiver over the previous couple of years.
He will likely be confronted with the challenges of coming off a midseason ACL tear and studying a brand new offensive system. Then there may be rookie Trey Burks, a giant, bodily receiver who may make a big effect proper off the bat. He raised some considerations in the course of the crew’s minicamp with issues as a result of his bronchial asthma, which will likely be one thing to observe transferring ahead.
With the departure of Saffold, the left guard spot is up for grabs. Aaron Brewer and Jamarco Jones will battle it out for the beginning gig, each of whom are NFL journeymen.
Lastly, all eyes will likely be on Malik Willis. Whereas all indicators level to him sitting this season, he’s undoubtedly the way forward for the Titans’ franchise. His athleticism and working capability will likely be straightforward for him to flash, however he has a variety of growing to do as a passer. He may see the sphere some as a rookie within the wildcat or if Ryan Tannehill runs into any points in the course of the season.