Ryan Tannehill
Year: 2019
Record: 8-4
PPG: 25.1 (10th)
Yds Per Game: 228.5
Completion Rate: 70.3%
TD/INT: 22/6
QB Rating: 117.5
Supporting Cast
- Derrick Henry
- Dion Lewis
- AJ Brown
- Corey Davis
- Adam Humphries
- Jonnu Smith
Defense
PPG: 20.7 (12th)
Takeaways: 23 (11th)
Ryan Tannehill is a college wide receiver who made the switch to quarterback in the NFL.
Originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins, Tannehill was released after the 2018 season.
He promptly found a starting job with the Titans for the 2019 season, and it ended up being the best season of his career.
The Titans’ magical run ended with a conference championship game loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Tennessee squeezed into the playoffs at 9-7 with a Week 17 win over Houston coupled with a Pittsburgh loss to Baltimore.
On the road in the Wildcard round, the 6th seed Titans stunned the 3rd seed Patriots in Foxborough.
The following week in the Divisional round, they won in even more surprising fashion, knocking off the 1st seed Ravens in Baltimore.
In those two games, the load was carried by a stifling defense that limited Tom Brady’s offense to 13 points, and the Ravens to 12.
RB Derrick Henry kept the defense off of the field in those two games, churning out 182 and 195 yards on 30 and 34 carries, respectively.
Tannehill’s contribution was minimal.
His averages in those first two playoff games were seven completions for 80 yards.
He did throw for three touchdowns, but they were short and setup by play action inside the 10 yard line.
Tannehill’s luck ran out against the Chiefs.
The defense gave up 35 points to Mahomes and Kelce, and Henry only managed 69 yards on the ground.
Is Tannehill more talented than Dak?
Go find me a playoff game where Dak threw for less than 100 yards TWICE, then come back and see me.
Where Does Dak Stand Now?
There is a common theme from these less talented quarterbacks making conference championship games.
Efficient play, above average rush offenses, and elite defenses.
Everyone knows Dak had an interception “problem” in 2022.
That notion has since been dispelled by film nerds, showing the scheme and poor wide receiver play did him no favors.
I expect a full bounce back to the 2021 Prescott that was used as the example above.
If last year is any indication, Prescott will have at least one of the other factors of the formula this coming season.
The Cowboys have come a long way from the putrid Mike Nolan defense of 2020 that set franchise worst records in many categories.
This is now year three under Dan Quinn, and I am personally expecting this defense to be the absolute best in the league.
The running game is the wildcard here.
Fan favorite Ezekiel Elliott is now gone after seven seasons.
Dallas did not draft a replacement, and seemingly are giving the reins to the explosive Tony Pollard.
Pollard is coming off of the best season of his career. A season in which he finally got more opportunity.
However, questions at left guard and right tackle could spell trouble for the rushing attack.
One factor that may alleviate that situation a bit is the implementation of Mike McCarthy‘s West Coast philosophy into the current scheme.
The Texas Coast offense, as it’s been labeled, utilizes short horizontal passes in place of rushing attempts in an effort to spread defenses thin from sideline to sideline.
This, in turn, leads to wider running lanes for running backs.
There is one thing that I am certain of, however.
Rayne Dakota Prescott is more than talented enough to get Dallas past the Divisional round, and into the conference championship.
I’ll even go as far as saying he can win the conference championship, make a Super Bowl appearance, and win that game as well.
However the season shakes out, odds are that Joy Taylor and many others will be eating crow in February 2024.
