Analysis of the 2021 NFL season of the Tennessee Titans

By Enrique “Henri” B. Franco. Follow your project on @nationpatriots Y nationpatriota.com)

The 2021 season for the Tennessee Titans was the complete opposite of what we saw from this team in 2020 at first glance: better defense and a lackluster offense through the air. After becoming a giant slayer within the AFC, they were precisely the victims of the surprise in their first postseason game. So how do we explain this whole roller coaster ride that was his season?

The 2021 Tennessee Titans Season

Statistics in 2021 (according to Pro Football Reference):

Offense: #17 Defense: #12

By Air: #25 By Air: #30

By Land: #5 By Land: #2

By Points: #15 By Points: #6

Of the defense, without a doubt it stands out a front seven among the elite of the NFL; DT Jeffery Simmons (All-Pro selection) and LB Harold Landry, were also responsible for 20.5 sacks of all the team, generating constant pressure. With that brute force, they cared little about only having S Kevin Byard as their playmaker in that perimeter, and in fact, allowed the safety one of his best seasons as a professional, also being chosen to this year’s All-Pro.

They were also badly battered by COVID-19 and injuries, highlighted by none other than the absence of RB Derrick Henry from week 8 through the playoffs. Consequently, they led to having to ask for a much bigger role in the passing game, with what appeared to be a pretty big trio: QB Ryan Tannehill, WR Julio Jones and WR AJ Brown.

However, not only the numbers attested to a considerable loss of play for Tannehill. In 2020 he finished as a highly efficient QB; this time, your numbers they were the opposite: 357/531, 3,734 yards, 21 TDs, 14 interceptions; his average turnover per game was 2.6%, almost double from the previous year and was a factor this year; regardless of the receivers of him and the Jones debacle.

Still, they beat multiple teams in these playoffs: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams with this seal. So his biggest playmakers were always on the staff.

The MVP of the 2021 Titans season

Derrick Henry—RB

They say that nobody knows what they have until they see it lost and the loss of “King” Henry felt like that. Already an active legend, the runner only increased his value with his absence; his 937 yards and 10 TDs they kept him among the best in the NFL until the end of the season — which speaks to the season he was having before his injury — and above all, the Titans took up two or more running backs to almost match his production on that offense.

The best moment of his 2021 season

It has to be the game against the Buffalo Bills, his turning point in the season; it’s easy to see how they went from pretenders to contenders at that point. The offensive deployment was quite impressive, where they were able to match the explosiveness of QB Josh Allen without problem, but staying true to his physical style and going mainly on the ground (146 rushing yards). It was also the game where the defense finally grew, with a heroic fourth-down stoppage:

The worst moment of his 2021 season

A disaster where you look, given the resounding failure to be number one in the AFC; however, having nine sacks in that game, and losing to three interceptions by Ryan Tannehill, is the perfect summary of his season:

What is expected in the 2022 season?

Although many would expect a huge change in the offseason, the truth is that this front office got used to prudent investment and with it, they also gave a complete facelift to the defense from one year to the next. Nothing tells us they won’t keep doing it, especially on offense.

To be fair, injuries and COVID-19 hit this team hard, but led by Mike Vrabel, they rose above and beyond; They’ll have to take their share of the blame, especially with their decisions in the last game, but they finished first in the AFC, being dominant on defense with no great perimeter and nothing but Brown and Henry impacting that offense.

Some smart spending could improve their chances, as they have the stuff to beat the conference big boys.

Read the rest of our 2021 Season NFL team reviews here: