5 AFC teams who could challenge the Chiefs and Ravens in 2020
AFC. Tennessee Titans. 3. player. 35. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. South
Remember when I mentioned earlier how every year there’s a team that comes out of nowhere and goes on a run? The Titans were most definitely that team last year, so why couldn’t they do it again this year?
It was a strange 2019 campaign for Tennessee, who started the season off 2-4 before benching former second overall pick Marcus Mariota and slotting in Ryan Tannehill in his place. That was all it took to propel the Titans to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.
Tennessee largely depended on Derrick Henry to win games for them and he didn’t disappoint, rushing for 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Tennessee’s upset victories over both the Patriots and the Ravens were in huge thanks to Henry running roughshod over those respective defenses, both of which had been very good in 2019.
Despite taking a 17-7 lead in the second quarter, Tennessee couldn’t stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive offense, who soared to a 21-17 lead at the half and never looked back, winning 35-24.
Tennessee’s problem was that once the Chiefs forced them to get away from utilizing Henry, they couldn’t be the team that got them to that point.
As long as Henry is 2019 Derrick Henry again, the Titans have a shot to make it deep in the postseason once again. Tannehill made clutch throws when he needed to, but with a huge contract issued to him this offseason, he’ll have to show he was worth that deal.
The Titans travel to Baltimore in week 11 and do not play the Chiefs in the regular season.