The Tennessee Titans have done it again. When every national media outlet had written them off earlier in the season, except my guy (Nate Burleson) they have stepped up huge in the postseason. The great Tom Brady and New England Patriots were the first to become victims of the Titans last week followed by the Ravens this past weekend.
The dominant back to back wins is showing everyone just how for real this AFC South division team is. Coming off an impressive 20-13 win two weeks ago against New England to this past weekend knocking off the Ravens 28-13, setting up an AFC Championship matchup that we haven’t had in Nashville in quite some time. The Titans have always been an underdog, in fact, this is the third season in team history with two playoff wins as the lesser opponent. But don’t tell that to the Titans!
Mike Vrabel and Arthur Smith put together yet another great offensive game plan that allowed the offensive line to pose their will on Baltimore. Derrick Henry amassed 195 yards on 30 carries while also tossing a touchdown to Corey Davis. While we’re talking about Henry, the NFL may want to re-think how the MVP voting process is determined. Listen to these stats, week 17 Henry had 211 rushing yards that earned him the rushing title for the regular season. The following week in New England he ran up 182 yards and produced a majority of the Titans offense. And again this past weekend with 195 yards, making Derrick the first in NFL history with 180 rushing yards and three straight games. Not taking anything away from other potential MVP candidates across the league, however, it is something that the NFL may want to revisit before crowning the MVP winner.
Defensively, Dean Pees Might have to put together the best three-week game plan of his career. A week 17 must win against the Texans (minus their starters), defeating the great Tom Brady, shutting down a high-powered Baltimore offense led by Lamar Jackson, and all the while accomplishing these feats in hostile environments playing away from home. The two past weekends Pees defense has hailed the unanimous decision MVP, Lamar Jackson, to 1 touchdown and Tom Brady to 0, just think about that for second. The Titan’s defense has stepped up to another level of supremacy this postseason. Depending on Sundays outcome rather it is in division foe Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes, Pees and his defense will have to dial it up again for a potential showdown of the ages.
Stay tuned as the Titans head to Kansas City or Houston next weekend for an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl in February.
