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Why Ryan Tannehill deserves NFL Comeback Player of the Year

By Brady Akins

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans warms up prior to the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans warms up prior to the start of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Titans QB, Ryan Tannehill.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans passes the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

The Stats

By the end of the season, Tannehill’s overall numbers won’t look as impressive as the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. He won’t pass for more touchdowns than Lamar Jackson, and he won’t throw for as many yards as Dak Prescott.

Having spent the first six games on the Tennessee sideline, Tannehill’s total production won’t match other top quarterbacks around the NFL. However, in terms of season averages, Tannehill has been playing as well as anybody.

The former Dolphin is having a career year in many categories, with marks that put him towards the top of the NFL. Completing 73.4 percent of his throws in his eight games with a pass attempt, Tannehill ranks second in the NFL among qualified passers in completion percentage, behind only Drew Brees at 73.6 percent.

In terms of passer rating, Tannehill ranks behind no one. With a rating of 118.5, Tannehill is ahead of all qualified passers in this metric. The next highest passer rating in the NFL comes from Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who trails Tannehill with a rating of 112.0.

Not only is Tannehill tops in the NFL in passer rating, but he’s also outpacing players like Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson by more than 10 points in this stat.

Tannehill isn’t just thriving on dink-and-dunk passes, either. Aside from having the yards after catch king in A.J. Brown at receiver for the Titans, Tannehill has been asked to make deep throws this year, which has led to him leading the NFL in yards per pass attempt.

With a 9.8 average this season, Tannehill is beating the next best quarterback in this stat by over a yard per attempt. Matthew Stafford, the second-best qualified passer in yards per attempt sits 1.2 YPA lower than Tannehill, with 8.6 this year.

With a completion percentage well into the 70’s and a league-high passer rating, it would be expected that Tannehill is compiling strong numbers due to a successful quick pass, short-yardage passing attack.

But the Titans quarterback is also finding success with explosive, downfield throws. Statistically, Tannehill is playing great football, and the Titans have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL because of it.

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