As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the 2019 NFL playoffs, they’ll undoubtedly be focusing in on how to make quarterback Ryan Tannehill hurt Tennessee more than Baltimore. However, it would be foolish to forget just how good Tannehill has played in 2019 when facing the blitz.

Since usurping Marcus Mariota as the Titans starting quarterback, Tannehill has led the team to 2.44 points per drive and 29.9 points per game. And while running back Derrick Henry is a big part of Tennessee’s offense, it’s been Tannehill’s ability to succeed in the face of the blitz that has been the biggest difference for the Titans this season.

The 2018 iteration of Tannehill, playing behind a sieve-like Miami Dolphins offensive line, struggled when faced with any type of pressure. He completed a mere 27.5% of his pass attempts when pressured, a mark bettered by 29 quarterbacks last season.

However, behind the more stout Titans blockers, Tannehill has increased his completion percentage against pressure to 44.3% — good for sixth in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. Tannehill was blitzed 104 times during the regular season, seeing extra rushers nearly 10 times per game. He handled these situations expertly, completing 69.6% (55-of-79) of his passes against the blitz. These passes brought him 761 yards (9.6 yards per attempt) as well as six touchdowns and a passer rating of 120.3.

The Ravens’ defense and the blitz have gone together like chips and dip in 2019. Baltimore defensive coordinator Don Martindale sent extra rushers 329 times in the regular season (54.9% of the Ravens total defensive snaps), which tops the NFL by a wide margin.

However, all those blitzes managed to account for more pressure rather than pure sacks. The Ravens finished the regular season with 59 quarterback hits which ranked second in the league while their 6.4% sack rate was only good enough for 19th. But remember that blitzing and pressuring the quarterback isn’t only about getting a sack every time.

Forcing a quarterback to make quick reads and throws before they’re comfortable is how a defense creates havoc even on plays where they don’t get close. After playing the Ravens back in early December, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman John Feliciano told The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn that Baltimore “blitzed from everywhere.” In that game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was blitzed 30 times and he completed a mere seven of his 24 pass attempts while fumbling twice, losing one.

While Tannehill has been excellent against the blitz, on the whole, the Ravens may be able to beat him up and confuse him. While Tannehill has had the fifth-most time to throw, according to Next Gen Stats, Baltimore’s confusing blitzes and impressive secondary might be the key to making him more pedestrian under pressure.

The Ravens pass rush versus Tannehill will be one of the key matchups that could lead to success or failure this weekend at M&T Bank Stadium.

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