Tennessee Titans 2020 regular season awards
By Brady Akins
![NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 25: The Tennessee Titans huddle together before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Steelers defeated the Titans 27-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 25: The Tennessee Titans huddle together before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Steelers defeated the Titans 27-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Ftitansized-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1282507600-850x560-fcadf516e572198c23507fbf71e50e5df17a3654c4e075fdcf282ed38c8dd25e.jpg)
2020 Most Valuable Titan
Nominees
Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback
Remember all those regression talks? Those were fun. Tannehill finished the season with 33 touchdowns to seven interceptions, along with seven more touchdowns on the ground. Turns out, the guy that was really good in every game last season was really good again.
Jeffery Simmons, Defensive End
The brightest spot on a dark, eternally saddening Tennessee Titans defense. His efforts helped lift the Titans’ run defense to the 14th best in the league, both in total yards allowed and yards allowed per attempt. Not elite, but compared to their 29th ranked pass defense, that middle of the pack performance is a miracle.
AJ Brown, Wide Receiver
AJ Brown became the first receiver of the Titans era since Derrick Mason to reach 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back years. He also added 11 touchdowns, on just 70 catches. While missing a few games. And battling lingering injuries throughout the year.
He is, quite possibly, already the best wide receiver to ever put on a Titans uniform– with the exception of ‘twilight years’ Randy Moss and Andre Johnson.
Roger Saffold, Left Guard
There are very few numbers to pull for offensive linemen. But next time you watch Titans highlights, or the All-22, or whatever, make an effort to watch Roger Saffold go to work. He’s a mauler. He’s a beast. And he’s a huge part of makes the Titans’ offense go.
And the winner is….
Vic Beasley Jr. — Outside Linebacker
Kidding.
And the winner is…
Derrick Henry — Running Back
I could have been cute and picked Ryan Tannehill. I could have been asinine and picked Jeffery Simmons. But let’s not overthink this one. Let’s not deny historic greatness when it’s presented before us.
Derrick Henry just ran for 2,027 yards. That’s the most in the league by 470 yards. That’s the fifth-most in NFL history. That’s the most since 2012 when inevitable Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson ran for 2,097 (he won the league MVP that year, by the way).
Derrick Henry was a volume monster in 2020 with 378 carries. The offense lived and died with him. But more often than not, the offense lived. Take those 378 carries and mash them all together, and Henry was averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He also ran for 17 touchdowns. That also led the league in 2020.
Derrick Henry is so good. And he’s the MVP of the 2020 Tennessee Titans.