Could the Tennessee Titans score 500 points this season?
By Will Lomas
Recap of the Tannehill era
The Tennessee Titans finished the season averaging 25.1 points per game, which was great considering that they have spent the majority of the 2000s/2010s in the “teens”. Not to remind anyone of the heartbreak, but that does include the first six weeks of the season before Marcus Mariota was benched.
Following that shutout, the Titans went ahead with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and averaged 30.4 points per game.
People expect regression from Ryan Tannehill this year, but even if that happens it will probably be less than the public thinks. Tannehill wasn’t asked to throw the ball 50+ times per game, but he was huge in the offense because of his mind and his athleticism.
Mentally, he was at the line of scrimmage making things happen. Not only was he reading the defense presnap to figure out his options, but he was also given more and more freedom calling plays. Ultimately, he ended up changing the Titans’ biggest play of the postseason when he audibled against the Baltimore Ravens and hit Kalif Raymond deep to put the Titans up 14-0.
Athletically, he has been able to make plays on the ground, which keeps the defense honest and forces them to defend every blade of grass. Even if all 11 guys are thinking it is a Derrick Henry run, they have to respect that on any given play Tannehill could keep it on the bootleg.
Still, that total only adds up to 486 points. What needs to change to get to 500?