NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Ryan Tannehill leads Titans to win streak

16. Tennessee Titans

Recap: Are the Titans good? I mean, they were up 14-3 over the Tampa Bay Bucs in a flash, but that was more about the Titans defense taking advantage of a bad Tampa offense right?

Make no mistake, the Titans defense is loaded with studs like Harold Landry, Kevin Byard, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones, Rashaan Evans, and Jayon Brown, and that is just the guys that played really well today.

However, I have concerns about the offense especially after the star wide receivers were left relatively untouched and without sufficient targets for most of the game. I will never get mad about a win or about points, but how does Arthur Smith make getting the ball to Corey Davis and A.J. Brown look so hard?

That combined with the random touch to Dion Lewis makes the Titans offense just infuriating to watch.

Before I get to the outlook, I need to give props to some of the Titans less heralded players who have showed out in the Tannehill era. Over the last two weeks, the Tajae Sharpe has 2 TDs, but maybe more important is the Titans “other” TE, Jonnu Smith.

Over the last two weeks, Smith has put up 9 receptions for 142 yards and a TD. If he keeps up that pace, there is a good chance that he could finish the season with around 850 yards which is exactly what Delanie Walker hovered around during his time as the Titans star receiving threat.

Outlook: Long term, the Titans obviously need a new QB even if Ryan Tannehill is amazing this year. However, suddenly this season doesn’t look like a lost cause anymore. With some money to spend this offseason now that a Marcus Mariota mega deal is off the table, I am interested to see exactly how Titans GM Jon Robinson goes about keeping this team together.

Before any of that, the Titans have to take on the #15 team on this list.