Tag: A.J. Brown

The Titans’ new look receiving corps should terrify the Texans

Led by rookie A.J. Brown, the Tennessee Titans have a young group of talented receivers that should terrify the Houston Texans.

These aren’t your daddy’s Tennessee Titans.

No longer are the Titans plagued by their quarterback Marcus Mariota not having weapons catching the ball. No. Ryan Tannehill is now the quarterback, and he certainly has weapons catching the ball.

On Sunday, the Houston Texans will have to game plan from a young group of playmaking pass-catchers residing on the Titans’ side of the ball. 25-or-younger wide receivers A.J. Brown, Corey Davis and Tajae Sharpe should terrify Houston’s secondary.

The Texans worked out Brown, Davis and Sharpe when they each respectively entered the NFL. The skills the Bill O’Brien-led coaching staff once saw have emerged in the Titans’ Tannehill-led offense.

“Corey Davis, when he came out, good size, good speed and they’ve done a really good job with him,” said O’Brien on Wednesday. “Good route runner, good hands, really understands coverage. A.J. Brown, to come into this league to play the way he’s playing as a rookie is a testament to him and the coaching that he’s receiving. Tajae Sharpe, he’s done a really good job for them over the years. There’s a lot of weapons on that offense.”

Davis, the No. 5 pick in 2017, isn’t the go-to option for Tennessee’s pass offense. It’s the second-round rookie, Brown, who hails from Ole Miss.

The former Rebel is playing like an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. A talent comparable to Pro Bowler JuJu Smith-Schuster, Brown is a big-play threat, tallying 39 receptions for 779 yards and six touchdowns on the year. According to Pro Football Reference, 371 of his yards have come after the catch.

Once considered to be the No. 1 option in Tennessee, Davis has played the sidekick role to Brown in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s attack. He has 33 receptions for 460 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games of play.

Sharpe is an overlooked talent in the Titans group of young pass-catchers. He is productive in spurts, recording 17 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns on the year. He may have an increased role on Sunday with slot receiver Adam Humphries questionable with an ankle.

The Titans’ young group of receivers has gelled to the point where the Titans have scored 30-plus in each of their past four games. In that span, Tannehill has produced to the tune of 1,013 yards, nine touchdowns, an interception and a 144.2 passer rating.

For a leaky Texans secondary, the Titans’ receiver galore could spell doom.

6 waiver wire pickups in fantasy football for week 15

Waiver wire targets for the fantasy football playoffs.

It’s Week 15 and that means you’re either in the thick of the playoffs, just started the playoffs or trying not to come in last place. For the lucky postseason contenders, congratulations! In a year of injuries and roller coaster superstars, it has not been easy to develop a consistent roster week to week.

As any fantasy football veteran knows though the tinkering does not end at the end of the regular season. Adding and dropping players continues right up until the championship game and if you aren’t on top of things, it might just cost you a trophy and maybe a good amount of cash.

Some players are just late bloomers and while that might not be the best for fantasy football, its spots like these that you need a guy who is on a hot streak.

With the season winding down, here are six players to add to really put your team over the top:

(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

WR A.J. Brown: 31.3% rostered (ESPN)

The Titans have been a new team in the second half of the season winning six of their last seven games. A large part of their success has been the impressive quarterback play of Ryan Tannehill, but Brown has been the leading receiver on this roster.

Last week against Oakland, the rookie receiver totaled five catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The combination of Brown and Corey Davis has really helped this Titans team, although Brown is separating himself in terms of production.

Brown will not be available for long after his big week so make sure if he is available in your league you claim him while you can.

Next game: vs Houston

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Tunnel Vision of Week 14

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Yards TD
 Jameis Winston 456 – 5 5
 Drew Brees 249 – 1 6
 Mitchell Trubisky 244 – 63 4
 Deshaun Watson 292 – 44 3
 Jimmy Garoppolo 349 – 1 4
Running Backs Yards TD
Austin Ekeler 213 1
Aaron Jones 192 1
Joe Mixon 186 1
Derrick Henry 109 2
Raheem Mostert  109 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
A.J. Brown 166 2
Emmanuel Sanders 192 2
Diontae Johnson 76 2
Michael Thomas 134 1
DeAndre Hopkins 132 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Noah Fant 113 1
Jared Cook 64 2
Travis Kelce 70 1
George Kittle 67 1
Tyler Higbee 116 0
Placekickers XP FG
Jason Sanders 0 7
Younghoe Koo 4 4
Randy Bullock 0 4
Robbie Gould 6 2
Harrison Butker 2 3
Defense Sck – TO TD
Steelers 5 – 3 1
Falcons 5 – 4 0
Broncos 3 – 3 1
Colts 1 – 4 1
Browns 2 – 1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

WR Mike Evans – Hamstring
TE Jared Cook – Head
WR Devante Parker – Concussion
WR Albert Wilson – Concussion
RB Derrius Guice – MCL sprain
TE Ryan Griffin – ankle
TE Noah Fant – Foot
TE Mark Andrews – Knee
WR Calvin Ridley – Abdomen
QB Jameis Winston – Hand
QB Tom Brady – Elbow
TE Foster Moreau – Knee
RB Rashaad Penny – Knee
WR DJ Chark – Ankle

Chasing Ambulances

Well. After a few weeks of few injuries, the blue tent was busting at the seams on Sunday. Still a little early to say if these are serious or nothing, but enough of them are worth watching.

WR Mike Evans – He pulled lame at the end of his 61-yard touchdown catch. Hamstrings can be a tricky thing so his practices this week will be key. If he missed Week 15 at the Lions, Breshad Perriman would take his place and already ended with 70 yards and a score against the Colts this week. A worthy pickup for the Evans owners.

WR Devante Parker – Appeared to have a concussion and if he misses the tilt at the Giants this week, Isaiah Ford would step in. He took over on Sunday and became the leading receiver with 92 yards on six catches. Probably more of a Daily Play than a league championship start.

RB Derrius Guice – Appeared to sprain his MCL, Guice is hardly helping his injury-prone perception. Adrian Peterson would just step up the rushing yardage while Chris Thompson would handle the receiving as he just did when he caught seven passes for 43 yards.

TE Mark Andrews – Sprained his knee and could miss the tilt against the Jets this week. Hayden Hurst was the tight end that they drafted before they took Andrews in a later round last year. Hurst ended with 73 yards and a score on three catches as the leading receiver in the win over the Bills. Lamar Jackson loves his tight ends.

RB Rashaad Penny – Pulled up like he had a serious knee injury even though the tackle did not look bad. His absence would mostly lead to more Chris Carson and just a worthless dash of C.J. Prosise.

WR DJ Chark – Hobbled off at the end of the game, his ankle injury is not yet known to be serious. If he misses next week in Oakland, his targets would likely just be spread out among Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley and maybe Keelan Cole. But the Jags are playing with their hands in the air like they just don’t care. Except for Chark.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Olamide Zaccheaus –  The undrafted rookie out of Virginia just set the NFL record with his first NFL catch that went for a 93-yard touchdown, the longest first-catch touchdown ever. I speak on behalf of every sportswriter in the country when I say we should just refer to him as “OZ” to avoid constant misspellings and mispronunciations.

RB Joe Mixon – He started the year so slowly that he killed fantasy owners. But he’s improved over the season and turned in a season-best 146 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries plus caught three passes for 40 yards. He scored in five of the last seven games but only upped his yardage until after midseason.

WR Terry McLaurin – The rookie just scored for the first time since Week 6. His production suffered tremendously after the change to Dwayne Haskins but it is a positive sign that he scored and turned in four catches for 57 yards in the loss to the Packers. The next two games are at home versus the Eagles and Giants – the No. 29 and No. 30 defenses versus wideouts. At least there is hope.

QB Drew Lock – His debut only produced 134 passing yards and two scores versus the Chargers. His second outing was when he threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in Houston. Those were both wins. He completed 22-of-27 passes and connected with ten different receivers. He may not be the second incarnation of John Elway, but at least he’s pointed in the right direction playing with a team that has been stripped down.

WR Emmanuel Sanders – There’s just no other way to spin it. The 49ers offense is very good. Sanders ended with seven catches for 157 yards and one touchdown against the Saints. In the flurry of traded players, Sanders may be the most pleased with his new team regardless of the price of real estate in the Bay Area. He’s a 2020 free agent. He’ll be able to afford a house anywhere.

RB Alvin Kamara – It’s bad enough that he almost never scores, but he only ran for 25 yards on 13 carries versus the 49ers along with four catches for 18 yards. Latavius Murray accounted for 69 yards on his seven runs and gained 25 yards on his two receptions. That’s 43 vs. 94 total yards.

WR Robby Anderson –  His first ten games contained just one score and one decent yardage effort. These last three weeks had him score in Washington, then gain 86 yards and score on the Raiders in Week 12. The last two games were both seven catches for over 100 yards each and a score versus Miami on Sunday.

WR Mike Williams – He only caught two passes in the win over the Jaguars, but he gained 63 yards and scored a 44-yard touchdown. Despite scoring ten times in 2018 as the No. 3 receiver, it was his first score since Week 17 of last year.

The Jaguars – Their 35-point loss to the visiting Chargers smacked of a team that has given up and is just going through the motions. That should help the Raiders and Falcons as they host the team with the missing defense.

RB David Johnson – He’s been a nonfactor after leaving in Week 7 and returning in Week 10. But he came up with 19 yards on three runs and added two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Steelers. Kenyan Drake only ran for 37 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards in that game. Johnson isn’t dead, but he is still too big of a risk to rely on.

RB Sony Michel – He was moderately productive in the first half of the year and scored six times. Since Week 9, he’s never scored, has no role as a receiver and just faced the No. 32 defense versus running backs. He gained eight yards on five rushes. Granted, the Pats were trailing but even Rex Burkhead gained 15 yards on seven carries. Michel bears almost no resemblance to 2018 and yet he’s one of the few Patriots that isn’t on the injury report.

QB Tom Brady – He finally turned in high production in Week 13 when he passed for 326 yards and three scores. But in Week 14, he was back to his less effective ways. Brady only managed 169 yards and one score with one interception against the visiting Chiefs. His 63.3 QB Rating was the lowest of the year although he’s been stuck at sub-90 QBR for the last six games.

WR A.J. Brown – The rookie was already impressive but since turning to Ryan Tannehill, Brown’s production has spiked. He turned in a season-best 153 yards and two scores on five catches in the win over the Raiders. And that was two weeks after he posted 135 yards and a touchdown on the Jaguars in Week 12. Tannehill also produced a season-best with 391 yards and three scores. His first read is Brown.

RB DeAndre Washington – He subbed for the inactive Josh Jacobs. The Raiders No. 2 back ran for 53 yards and one score on 14 carries and added six catches for 43 yards in the loss to the Titans. Jalen Richard only totaled 46 yards. Hosting the Jaguars for Week 15 could make him at least a daily play if Jacobs remains out.

WR Robert Woods – He finally caught a touchdown for the first time this year. But his seven catches for 98 yards made it four straight starts that resulted in 95 yards or more. Remember Brandin Cooks? You can stop now.

Huddle player of the week

Jameis Winston  –  Just in time for Christmas, the NFL gives fantasy football Jameis Winston. He not only threw for 456 yards and four touchdowns. He not only rushed in a touchdown. But he also tossed three interceptions to help the Colts remain motivated in the game. He’s a gift that keeps on giving – to everyone.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Mitchell Trubisky 307 4 QB Josh Allen 155 1
RB Raheem Mostert 109 2 RB Alvin Kamara 43 0
RB DeAndre Washington 96 1 RB Leonard Fournette 63 0
WR Diontae Johnson 76 2 WR John Brown 26 0
WR Marcus Johnson 105 1 WR Davante Parker 28 0
WR Olamide Zaccheaus 93 1 WR Julio Jones 66 0
TE Noah Fant 113 1 TE Kyle Rudolph 11 0
PK Jason Sanders 7 FG PK Matt Prater 1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 161 Huddle Fantasy Points = 34

Now get back to work…

5 standouts from Titans’ 42-21 win over Raiders

It took a full team effort in which several players stood out, but some were just a cut above the rest.

The Tennessee Titans (8-5) look like a fully developed team as they recorded a 42-21 win over the Oakland Raiders (6-7) on the road Sunday.

Next week, they’ll take on the division rival Houston Texans in Nissan Stadium for the tiebreaker for the top spot in the AFC South.

It took a full team effort in which several players stood out, but some were just a cut above the rest.

Here’s a look at some of those names.

1. QB Ryan Tannehill.

We’ve heard plenty about Tannehill’s inconsistencies in the past, but he’s kept his foot on the gas since he’s been the starter in Tennessee.

Tannehill had yet another huge game, completing 21-of-27 passes for 391 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while distributing the ball to 10 different receivers.

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Titans-Colts: a look at offensive snap counts

Here’s a complete look at the offensive snap counts.

The Tennessee Titans (7-5) looked like a much different, much more improved team as they faced the Indianapolis Colts (6-6) for the second time this season and recorded a 31-17 win in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Offensive linemen Rodger Saffold, Nate Davis, Jack Conklin and Ben Jones were in for a full 60 offensive snaps, along with quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown saw action on 54 snaps — more than any player on offense outside of the linemen and the signal-caller.

Fullback Khari Blasingame was used on special teams more than any of the offense’s players, in for 13 snaps.

Here’s a complete look at the offensive snap counts.

The Titans are set to face the Oakland Raiders next at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday in Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

6 Titans the Colts must game plan for in Week 13

These Titans must be in the game plan in Week 13.

The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts both sit at 6-5 ahead of a highly-anticipated AFC South matchup Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. This a must-win for both teams as they try to keep pace with Houston for the division and the tight race for the AFC wild card as well.

If the Colts want to get back on track after a long week, here are six Titans the Colts must game plan for in the Week 13 divisional matchup.

(Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)

QB Ryan Tannehill

After winning four of their last five, Tannehill seems to be the short-term solution in Tennessee. Getting after him and forcing him to make rushed throws will be key for the Colts in this one. With the ability to spread the ball to a variety of receivers, shutting down Tannehill will be vital to a victory.

The Colts must also be aware of Tannehill’s ability as a runner, which is an underrated aspect of his game.

RB Derrick Henry

November-Henry is a real thing. The fourth-year back has been criticized throughout his career for being inconsistent on a week to week basis but in the month of November, Henry has been very productive during his time in Tennessee.

The Colts will have to shut down Henry in order to throw the entire offense off track in this one. When the Titans get the run game going, their offense becomes a lot more threatening.

WR A.J. Brown

The rookie receiver has been a great addition to this offense. With the size to go over the top of defenders and the speed to create separation, Brown has emerged as one of the best young receivers in the game.

Look for Pierre Desir to matchup against Brown on Sunday, mostly because of a size comparison. Don’t be surprised if Malik Hooker or Marvel Tell matchup against Brown as well.

(Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)

LB Rashaan Evans

Leading the team in tackles with 85 on the year, Evans is one of the better linebackers in all of football. His run stopping ability is incredible and his speed makes it easy for him to cover tight ends as well. With Eric Ebron being placed on IR on Monday, Jack Doyle and others will have to find success after a lackluster performance in Houston.

CB Logan Ryan

Ryan has been dominant throughout his entire career, filling up a stat sheet week to week. His line on the year is 78 total tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, 16 passes defended and 3.5 sacks. Ryan will most likely be on T.Y. Hilton all game as Hilton tries to bounce back after a pitiful performance against Houston.

LB Harold Landry III

The other linebacker in the Titans talented duo is Landry. Where Evans is more utilized in the passing game, Landry is moved all around the field and is a talented pass rusher. With eight sacks on the season, it will be crucial for the Colts to stop Landry blitzing up the middle in order to give Brissett time in the pocket.

Players and fans react to Titans’ 42-20 win over Jaguars

Here’s a look at some player and fan reactions after the victory.

The Tennessee Titans (6-5) may have gotten off to a rough start in 2019, but now have the makings of a playoff push after Sunday’s 42-20 win over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7).

The Titans held the momentum from the beginning, and stayed dominant on both fronts to get the job done.

Here’s a look at some player and fan reactions after the victory.

The Titans will face the Indianapolis Colts next on Sunday at noon CT in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Fantasy football waiver wire targets after Week 12: A top QB is largely available

A middling quarterback has emerged as a fantasy football star.

Don’t quit the waiver wire now.

The fantasy football season is almost over, but the waiver wire is producing a few gems for your final push into the playoffs. There are top-tier quarterbacks and defenses on the waiver wire in most leagues. And a few younger players are benefitting from fatigue and attrition. It’s not time to stop paying attention to the waiver wire, even it’s easy to feel set with the players you have (especially if you’ve been winning).

Make sure you find the piece that gets you into the playoffs or, even better, gets you into the championship game. Here are six waiver wire targets to consider after Week 12 of NFL and fantasy football action.

6. New York Jets defense

ESPN: 27%. Yahoo! 23%.

The Jets see the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 and the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. It’s a nice schedule as folks close out their regular season, and perhaps begin their playoff run. The issue is that the Jets get the Ravens in Week 15, which is when you’d want to get a different streamer. But the Jets defense shouldn’t really be a streamer. They’ve been a top scorer in standard with the fourth-most point.

5. Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks

ESPN: 29%. Yahoo! 19%.

You can’t expect him to replicate his Week 12 stat line with regularity. He had 14 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. Chris Carson is, of course, the top back. But perhaps Penny can compete for more touches if Carson continues to have fumbling issues. Penny is worth owning, though I’m not sure he’s been consistent enough to feel good about starting.

4. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN: 15%. Yahoo! 26%.

He’s the rare case of a bad real-life quarterback being a good fantasy quarterback. (Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is another obvious example.) Tannehill has averaged almost 24 points per game over the last for weeks. That has made him QB4 during that span. He had his best performance in Week 12 with 259 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

3. Benny Snell, RB, Steelers

ESPN: 3%. Yahoo! 5%.

Snell has been an opportunist in 2019, with a few games as a starter and, in turn, a few fantasy-relevant performances. He had 21 carries for 98 yards and a reception for 10 yards. Without a touchdown, Snell didn’t turn many heads from a point total. But he was solid in relief of James Conner, whose shoulder injury seems to be a significant issue after he made things worse by playing a few weeks ago. Snell might take a big role in the next few games.

2. A.J. Brown, WR, Titans

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN: 16%. Yahoo! 16%.

He finished with four catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. With a merely competent quarterback, Brown can clearly be a star. Marcus Mariota wasn’t putting together enough passing production for Brown to thrive. But Tannehill — and I can’t believe I’m writing this — has been crucial in making Brown a playable option in fantasy football. He’s still a risk, but it’s clear he’s a big play threat that the Titans want to feed.

1. Bo Scarbrough, RB, Lions

ESPN: 45%. Yahoo! 43%.

After tinkering with running backs Ty Johnson and J.D. McKissic over the last few weeks, the Lions signed Scarbrough, a move which has not disappointed. In fact, Detroit seems to have found its new lead back, with Kerryon Johnson on IR. Scarbrough finished with 18 carries for 98 yards. He didn’t manage to get into the end zone, but in a way, that might be a blessing in disguise. That’ll make him easier to get off waivers. He’s a rare workhorse, who seems to be running well. He’s must-own, and a likely flex-play.

Instant analysis: Titans hand Jags third consecutive blowout loss within the division

The Jaguars were embarrassed once again by a divisional opponent and their playoff hopes went out the door with the loss.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered Week 12’s game against the Tennessee Titans with it being a do or die situation for their playoff hopes but fell flat on their faces as they did in their last two games. In fact, the game got downright ugly as they fell to their longtime rivals by a score of 42-20.

The game was close (7-3) heading into half-time but the wheels fell off in the third quarter. In the first series, the defense gave up a huge 36-yard reception to receiver A.J. Brown, which set the Titans up for an easy 1-yard touchdown reception to Denis Kelly. Afterward, the struggling rush defense allowed a 75-yard touchdown to Derrick Henry.

After a fumbled kickoff return by Michael Walker that put Tennessee on the Jags’ seven, they were able to punch in another touchdown with Henry, putting the score at 28-3. The bleeding didn’t stop there, however, as Brown added a 65-yard touchdown reception before the third quarter could end.

The Jags tried to respond with two touchdowns of their own by running back Leonard Fournette but the damage was done at that point. Not to mention, the Titans added a fourth quarter touchdown courtesy of quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

In a nutshell, the loss came down to another embarrassing performance from the defense, which allowed 471 total yards, 219 of which were rushing yards. Additionally, the Jags’ $80-plus million man Nick Foles struggled once again with hitting his receivers when it counted. With the Titans pouring it on, he had 48 passing attempts which led to a padded total of 272 passing yards on the night. Simply put, the loss is one that signals the team has hit rock bottom and changes could be on the horizon.

The Jags’ next game will be at home against the Tampa Bay Bucs, who are coming off a 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons. That game will take place on Dec. 1 with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Has Ryan Tannehill been born again as a starting quarterback?

Unwanted in Miami after six years as a decent quarterback, Ryan Tannehill is rebooting his career remarkably with the Tennessee Titans.

The big story in the Chiefs’ Week 10 game against the Titans was supposed to be the return of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player missed two games with a dislocated kneecap. Mahomes did his best upon his return, riddling Tennessee’s defense for 446 passing yards and three touchdown passes. But the quarterback on the winning side in this 35-32 contest was the other guy — Ryan Tannehill, starting his fourth straight game after the Titans’ coaching staff determined that Marcus Mariota wasn’t getting it done.

Tannehill didn’t blow anybody away with his statistics — he completed 13 of 19 passes for 181 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions, adding 37 rushing yards on three carries — but it was his 23-yard touchdown pass to receiver Adam Humphries with 29 seconds left that put the Titans ahead for good, aided as they were by a blocked Kansas City field goal attempt in the game’s final seconds.

Below, Humphries (No. 10) runs what starts out as a slot fade kind of thing, but turns back inside. Cornerback Rashad Fenton (No. 27) can’t keep up, and safety Tyrann Mathieu (No. 32) is leaning outside, so he can’t get there in time. Humphries has an easy play for the touchdown, and Tannehill does a nice job of not only hitting Humphries in stride, but using his head to drag Mathieu outside.

“They went 2-Man (coverage), and I knew if Ryan had time to throw it, I could wait on the seam, and it worked out for us,” Humphries said after the game.

“Well, I think that’s what it comes down to — the quarterback,” Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel added of the touchdown pass, and Tannehill’s play overall — on the final drive, the Titans went 61 yards in 53 seconds, and Tannehill also scrambled for 18 yards and hit tight end Anthony Firkser for a 20-yard completion. “That’s what we see every week in this league, is those guys managing that drill, that two-minute drill, that tempo procedure. Getting guys where they want them to be. Making guys believe if they do their job, we’re going to score. If we protect, and if we run great routes, and that’s the quarterback’s job – they raise everybody’s level of performance.”

Running back Derrick Henry, who ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, was all too happy to talk about how his quarterback performed in that crucial drive when Henry didn’t touch the ball.

“I think he knew that we would go down there and score. Receivers get open, he’d get it to them, and that’s what we did. I had a lot of confidence that we would, you know. And we did, so I’m happy we were able to get the win.”

“He was big time,” Humphries concluded. “He made plays with his legs, and he was just being poised. He stepped up in the pocket and made great throws, and it was great to see that.”

Traded from the Dolphins to the Titans on March 15 as part of Miami’s roster purge, Tannehill had completed 62.8% of his passes for 20,434 yards, 123 touchdowns, and 75 interceptions over six seasons for his old team. He was never grossly inefficient, but he was generally inconsistent — especially in the pocket, where he had a tendency to bail and run and leave things up to random chance. He had five different offensive coordinators in six seasons with the Dolphins, and for a guy who started only two seasons at quarterback at Texas A&M (he was a receiver in 2008 and 2009 before switching to QB for his junior and senior seasons), that’s a lot of noise to process.

Tannehill had a $17 million cap hit as part of the $77 million contract extension he signed with the Dolphins in 2015. Negotiations between Miami and Tennessee, as well as Tannehill and his team, created a one-year, $7 million deal that could perk up to $12 million with incentives. The Dolphins paid Tannehill’s $5 million signing bonus as part of the renegotiation, which left Tennessee on the hook for a 2019 cap hit of $1.875 million. The Titans also gave up a 2019 seventh-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2020. In return, Miami sent a 2019 sixth-round pick.

The deal has turned into one of the best bargains of the season, and it’s turned the Titans’ season around. Tennessee was 2-4 when Tannehill replaced Mariota; the Titans are now 5-5. Through the first half of the season, they ranked 23rd in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted metrics; they’re third behind only Baltimore and Dallas since.

And in the red zone, the Titans have become an unstoppable force with their new quarterback. They’ve scored touchdowns on all 10 of their excursions into the red zone. Vrabel has credited Tannehill’s quick release and decisiveness, two things Mariota struggled with before.

“Ryan has an undying belief that we are going to score every time we get down there, and he should,” quarterbacks coach Pat O’Hara concluded. “Every quarterback should. We started working hard on our red zone efficiency in the spring. It’s paying dividends now.”

It’s not just what he’s doing in the red zone, though. For weeks 7 through 10 (the Titans had a Week 11 bye), Tannehill ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per attempt at 8.5, he’s tied for third with eight touchdown passes and he has just three interceptions. He ranks eighth in passing yards with 1,017, and he’s fifth in passer rating at 107.5.

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