Tennessee Titans had top 10 lowest 3-and-out percentage in 2018

The Tennessee Titans had the top 10 lowest 3-and-out percentage in the NFL in 2018.

With all the futility of the Tennessee Titans’ passing attack last season, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that the team finished in the top 10 in lowest 3-and-out percentage last season.

According to ESPN’s NFL Matchup, the 3-and-out percentage is based on “percentage of drives with no first downs or TDs.”

The Titans came in at No. 8 in the league with 27.9 percent of their drives finishing with no first down or touchdown.

As I stated earlier, this is somewhat surprising when you consider the Titans finished with the No. 29 passing offense last season.

Marcus Mariota dealt with a slew of injuries that no doubt hindered his success, and the Titans were forced to send Blaine Gabbert in as his replacement. Gabbert ended up playing in eight games, making three starts in total.

It also didn’t help that tight end Delanie Walker missed all but one game the entire season.

If the Titans can avoid all of that this season, that percentage should be even better in 2019. The Titans will welcome the addition of slot receiver Adam Humphries, who can be a chain-moving machine, and Walker will make his healthy return.

Humphries also graded as one of the best receivers in the league last season on passes of one to nine yards, per Pro Football Focus, which will no doubt be an asset in third down and short-yardage situations.

When you also add a Titans rushing attack into the equation that finished as the No. 7 unit in 2018 and should feature bruising running back Derrick Henry more often, the Titans will be able to move the chains and sustain drives even more.

Stats like these, along with the improvements the team has made on offense overall, are why it’s puzzling so many people are giving this Titans offense no respect.

As we’ve said all offseason long, if you think the arrow isn’t pointing up for the Titans —and especially their offense— you aren’t paying attention.