NFL Divisional Saturday Takeaways: 49ers Carry Jimmy Garoppolo in Huge Upset

John Amis/Associated Press

There was talk out of Nashville before Saturday’s Divisional Round game that the AFC’s No. 1 seed was being “disrespected.”

Of the teams remaining in the postseason entering the weekend, Tennessee had the third-worst odds to win the Super Bowl via DraftKings sportsbook. Per Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings, the 2021 Titans were the worst No. 1 seed since 1983.

From looking at many of the stats from the game, one might think that Tennessee had proven all those doubting Thomases wrong. Despite Derrick Henry being held largely in check, the Titans amassed 140 yards on the ground, averaging over five yards a carry.

Defensively, the Titans allowed just 65 rushing yards, didn’t surrender a touchdown through the air and dropped Joe Burrow nine times.

But when the AFC Championship Game kicks off next week, the Titans will be watching it on TV instead of hosting it at Nissan Stadium. And there’s one primary reason why Tennessee’s season is over.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was abjectly awful.

Tannehill’s first pass of the game was intercepted by Bengals safety Jessie Bates III. His first throw of the second half was picked off by cornerback Mike Hilton. His final throw of the game was snared by Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson.

Two of those picks led to points for the Bengals, including the 52-yard field goal that sent Cincy on to the AFC title game.

Overall, Tannehill was 15-of-24 for 220 yards with a touchdown and those three interceptions. His passer rating for the game was a miserable 66.7. It was the lone position in the game where the Titans were outplayed—and Tannehill was outplayed badly.

While speaking to reporters after the game, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel came to the defense of his quarterback.

“It’s never going to be about one person,” Vrabel said.

The problem is that Saturday afternoon, it really was.

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