How do you define the 2020 Tennessee Titans? Some weeks, it was like watching a Super Bowl contender….an electric and explosive offense that could score at will. Fireworks. Others, the Titans made me want to bang my head against the wall. Porous defense, questionable game plans. The team bounced back and forth between the two, marred by inconsistency. Looking back on the season, these are the games I’ll think of in defining the 2020 Tennessee Titans.
The Games That Defined the 2020 Tennessee Titans
Packers def. Titans, 40-14 – Sunday Night Football from the frozen tundra in Green Bay, baby! At least to me, it felt like this was going to be the big step-up game for the Titans. If they were going to gain any momentum heading into the postseason, I couldn’t think of a better way than by shocking the world at Lambeau. But, it didn’t happen – whether it was adjusting to the cold, a bad game plan, or whatever – the Packers trounced the Titans in a game that caused a lot of pause in the optimism of the Titans fan base at the time.
Browns def. Titans, 41-35 – I know it was a loss, but I don’t know that any game exemplified the ‘never give up’ confidence of this Titans offense quite like this game did. Like the Steelers game, the Titans were down big time at the half. But, they scratched and clawed to get back into the game without ever appearing too shaken or distressed. While we’re talking about the Browns, here’s my hot take on them: they were actually the 2nd best team in the AFC this season. *shrugs*
Steelers def. Titans, 27-24 – It was a huge game early on in the season, when both teams remained unbeaten. As would happen several times in 2020, the Titans got behind early. It looked like it would be a blowout, but the Titans showed some real gumption in coming back in the second half with an opportunity to send it to overtime.
Titans def. Colts, 45-26 – To have lost the first meeting of the season the way they did felt pretty demoralizing, especially in the crucial part of the schedule that that game kicked off. But, the Titans were able to right the ship big time, vanquishing the division foe in dominant fashion.
Titans def. Texans, 41-38 – We lose sight of the fact that it probably shouldn’t have been that close, but all’s well that ends well. A bomb to AJ Brown set up Steel Toe Slo for the game winner and the Titans clinched their first AFC South title since 2008 in the process. This one was a real highlight of the season.
Titans def. Bills, 42-16 – This may have been the 2020 Tennessee Titans at their collective best. It was pure domination in all facets of the game. It was made much sweeter by the fact that this was the Titans’ first game back from the COVID outbreak, a rare Tuesday night game in the Music City. Two weeks, no practice, and they absolutely laid the wood on a team that would eventually go to the AFC Championship.
Ravens def. Titans, 20-13 – Doesn’t it feel at least a little bit ironic that the defense was a sieve all season long, and yet, it showed up in the playoffs and the offense was the unit that disappointed? Ultimately, I think this game is most indicative of who the Titans actually were in 2020 – a team with a ton of potential that just frustratingly ping-ponged between dominating, explosive offense and complete underachievement. They couldn’t get it together when it counted most.
Titans def. Ravens, 30-24 – After 2020, I think it’s safe to say that the good ol’ Titans-Ravens rivalry is back. This game was probably the vision for a deep playoff run – physical defense with a strong run game and efficient offense that couldn’t be stopped. Considering the implications for this one, when it took place in the season, and the fact that we got a Derrick Henry walk-off in overtime, I’m counting this one as the signature win for the 2020 season.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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