NFL 2016: Regular season grades for every team
By John Buhler
The other team in the NFL that made huge strides but failed to reach the NFL Playoffs were the AFC South’s Tennessee Titans. The Titans were on the cusp of winning the division, but a brutal loss to the rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve did this team in.
Franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota shined for most of his second NFL season. He looks to be a future superstar at the position. Unfortunately, Mariota broke his leg during Week 16’s road loss to Jacksonville and the Titans were eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC.
While people hated the hirings, the Titans have a strong coaching staff in place with Mike Mularkey as head coach, Terry Robiskie as offensive coordinator, and the ageless Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator. Together they have laid the foundation for a bright football future in Nashville. Expect the Titans to push for playoff contention in 2017.
Going from the worst team in football a year ago to being above .500 is a huge step in the right direction for this AFC South franchise. Tennessee needs to address its perimeter weapons in the draft and play exponentially better in the division. Those two areas unraveled this promising team more than anything.