When it comes to strength of schedule based on the opposing quarterbacks the Tennessee Titans will face in 2020, the team ranks in the middle of the pack in the NFL.
That’s according to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, who placed starting quarterbacks in tiers and then figured out each team’s strength of schedule based on the signal-callers they will face.
The Titans come in at No. 16 on the list. Tennessee is set to face two quarterbacks from “Tier 1”, five from “Tier 2”, four from “Tier 3” and four from “Tier 4”.
As Sando points out, the Titans could have seen a boost in difficulty had they finished first in the AFC South last season.
Finishing second to Houston in the AFC South last season affected the scheduling rotation in a manner that means the Titans will face Denver’s Lock while the Texans draw the Chiefs’ Mahomes. Mahomes would have been the highest-rated quarterback on Tennessee’s schedule if the Titans had won their division. Lock is tied with Minshew as the lowest-rated quarterback on the Titans’ schedule, although quite a few voters liked Lock’s potential.
Here’s a look at the quarterbacks the Titans will face and which tier Sando has placed each of them in.
Tier 1: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers | Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Tier 2: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens | Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers | Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions | Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts
Tier 3: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings | Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns | Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills | Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Tier 4: Nick Foles/Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears | Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars | Drew Lock, Denver Broncos
For reference, Sando has Tannehill ranked as a “Tier 3” signal-caller in 2020, even after he posted an elite season for a quarterback in 2019. Of course, we believe Tannehill should be in “Tier 2” at worst.
Of all AFC South teams, the Titans have the second-easiest quarterback strength of schedule in 2020.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 11) and Houston Texans (No. 15) both have tougher slates, while the Indianapolis Colts (No. 17) landed the easiest quarterback strength of schedule.
