The Tennessee Titans (5-5) shocked many analysts with a thrilling 35-32 win over the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) last week in Nissan Stadium.
The team had answers on offense, and came up with the big plays they needed in all three phases of the game to secure the victory and even out their record against one of the NFL’s best teams.
Because of this, it’s not a surprise the team jumped significantly in the NFL power rankings of multiple networks.
The Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranked the Titans at No. 16 in this week’s edition — ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers and behind the Philadelphia Eagles.
Here’s what he had to say about his placement of the team on the list.
“Don’t look now, but the Titans, once left at death’s door for the 2019 season, are starting to look a little frisky,” he wrote. “They certainly were in their 35-32 win over the Chiefs, which included a four-play, 61-yard winning drive that took less than a minute off the clock and continued to redefine Ryan Tannehill’s legacy as an NFL quarterback. Tannehill started the drive with a 18-yard scramble, nearly hit A.J. Brown on a deep throw down the left side, and then hit on a tight-window deep throw to tight end Anthony Firkser and the game-winner to receiver Adam Humphries.”
Farrar also made note of the stellar performances of running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
“Running back Derrick Henry was the real star of the day with his 188 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, but this is a team that has not had a functional quarterback since Marcus Mariota became a shell of his former self over the past couple seasons,” he wrote. “Perhaps Mariota can experience a Tannehill-like rebirth with another team in 2020. Right now, it’s Tannehill’s story that’s one of the most surprising of this season.”
The Titans will face the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars next at 3:05 p.m. CT in Nissan Stadium on Nov. 24 after the bye week.
