Titans Turn Focus to 2021 After Winning First Division Title in 12 Seasons
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 23, 2021 TITANS TURN FOCUS TO 2021 AFTER WINNING FIRST DIVISION TITLE IN 12 SEASONS Titans carry streak of five consecutive winning seasons, hold 22nd pick in NFL Draft NASHVILLE — The 2020 season was marked by adversity and adaptation, and by tests and achievements. The COVID-19 pandemic affected how NFL teams prepared, met, traveled and conducted business; precautions that had never been imagined in March were routine by the fall. Yet during one of the most unique seasons in NFL history, the Tennessee Titans earned 11 wins 2020 TITANS SCHEDULE and claimed their first division championship in 12 seasons. Armed with one of the best offenses in franchise history, the Titans won REGULAR SEASON (11-5) their first five games of 2020 and spent every week of the season either in first Day Date Opponent Result Score place in the AFC South or tied for the best record in the division. However, the Mon. Sept. 14 at Denver W 16-14 division crown was not fitted to the Titans until the final play of their final game Sun. Sept. 20 JACKSONVILLE W 33-30 of the regular season at Houston. On Jan. 3, kicker Sam Sloman, appearing Sun. Sept. 27 at Minnesota W 31-30 in his first game with the team as a COVID-19 replacement player for regular kicker Stephen Gostkowski, bounced a 37-yard field goal off the right upright Sun. Oct. 4 Bye and over the crossbar as time expired to defeat the Texans 41-38. Tue. Oct. 13 BUFFALO W 42-16 Tennessee finished with an 11-5 record, identical to the division rival Sun. Oct. 18 HOUSTON W 42-36 (OT) Indianapolis Colts. However, the Titans' 5-1 record within the AFC South Sun. Oct. 25 PITTSBURGH L 24-27 gave the Titans the tiebreaker over the Colts (4-2). The Titans posted their Sun. Nov. 1 at Cincinnati L 20-31 best overall record and took their first division title since going 13-3 in 2008. Sun. Nov. 8 CHICAGO W 24-17 The 11 wins extended Tennessee's streak to five consecutive winning INDIANAPOLIS seasons under executive vice president/general manager Jon Robinson, Thur. Nov. 12 L 17-34 who was hired by controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk in 2016. The last Sun. Nov. 22 at Baltimore W 30-24 (OT) time the organization produced at least five straight winning seasons was a Sun. Nov. 29 at Indianapolis W 45-26 seven-year stretch from 1987 to 1993. The Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Sun. Dec. 6 CLEVELAND L 35-41 Kansas City Chiefs were the only NFL teams to finish above .500 in each Sun. Dec. 13 at Jacksonville W 31-10 season from 2016 to 2020. Sun. Dec. 20 DETROIT W 46-25 Head coach Mike Vrabel was hired two years after Robinson, and in his first three seasons at the helm, the Titans totaled 31 wins, including playoffs. Sun. Dec. 27 at Green Bay L 14-40 Vrabel tied Jack Pardee (31-21 from 1990 to 1992) for the best record in Sun. Jan. 3 at Houston W 41-38 franchise history over a head coach's first three seasons. POSTSEASON (0-1) Sun. Jan. 10 BALTIMORE L 13-20 UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES The resilience of Strunk, Robinson and Vrabel was tested during a season that featured unprecedented challenges for all 32 NFL squads, which began the year without in-person offseason programs or preseason games. FINAL AFC SOUTH STANDINGS To limit the spread of the coronavirus, there were strict new protocols that included daily testing, a mask mandate and physical distancing guidelines. TEAM W L T PCT DIV CONF Team personnel wore tracking devices that were used for contract tracing yx-Tennessee Titans 11 5 0 .688 5-1 8-4 from the first day of training camp until the season came to a close. Players and coaches adapted along with society at large to virtual meetings. x-Indianapolis Colts 11 5 0 .688 4-2 7-5 An outbreak occurred within the organization following the Titans' Sept. Houston Texans 4 12 0 .250 2-4 3-9 27 victory at Minnesota, forcing two changes to their schedule. Their Week Jacksonville Jaguars 1 15 0 .063 1-5 1-11 4 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers was moved to Oct. 25, which was x - Clinched playoff berth y - clinched division title their original bye date, and their Week 5 home game against the Buffalo Bills was eventually played on Tuesday, Oct. 13, marking the NFL's second Tuesday contest since 1946. At the outbreak’s peak, there were a total of 14 players plus additional coaches and staff on the reserve/COVID-19 lists, but the Titans took the field against the previously unbeaten Bills and won convincingly, 42-16. TennesseeTitans.com/Media 2020 Tennessee Titans Season Review Page 2 of 125 Five of the Titans' games were played without fans in attendance, and none of their games had as many as 16,000 spectators present. Nissan NOTEWORTHY IN 2020 Stadium welcomed fans for seven of the Titans' eight regular season games ¾ The Titans clinched their first AFC South title since 2008. and for one playoff contest, but attendance was limited to no more than 21 ¾ percent of capacity. The Titans finished the season with an 11-5 record, winning 11 games for the first time since 2008, when they went 13-3. LOOKING AHEAD ¾ The Titans made their third postseason appearance in five seasons under general manager Jon Robinson after previously advancing to the divisional round in 2017 and to the AFC championship game in 2019. 2020 RECAP With one of the most unique seasons in NFL history now behind them, more work is ahead for Robinson, Vrabel and their staffs in 2021. They must ¾ With an 11-5 record, the Titans extended their streak to five consecutive confront an uncertain offseason—plans for the coming months have yet to winning seasons—every season since Robinson was hired in 2016. The be announced as COVID-19 lingers—while molding the roster to defend its Titans, Seattle Seahawks (2012-20) and Kansas City Chiefs (2013-20) division crown and pursue loftier goals. are the only teams entering 2021 with at least five consecutive winning The unrestricted free agent signing period will begin at the start of the seasons. new league year in mid-March, when all 2020 contracts expire. Players not ¾ The Titans made their second consecutive playoff appearance under under contract for 2021 are free to sign with another club at that point. Prior head coach Mike Vrabel, whose first year with the club was 2018. to the new league year, clubs can negotiate and re-sign their own players. Vrabel finished his third season as head coach with 31 total wins and a The trading period also begins upon the launch of the league year. .596 winning percentage (31-21) in those three seasons, including the After Robinson engineered 22 trades in his first five years on the job, it regular season and postseason. His win total and winning percentage remains a viable method to supplement the roster. each tied Jack Pardee (31-21 from 1990 to 1992) for the best in DRAFT Meanwhile, work is ongoing for the 2021 NFL Draft. With January's franchise history over a head coach’s first three seasons. Senior Bowl already passed, Robinson and his staff will get more first-hand ¾ The Titans finished with a 5-1 record within the AFC South in 2020. It interaction with draft prospects at their pro days, which are heightened in was their third time winning at least five divisional games since the AFC importance this year without the traditional NFL Scouting Combine taking South was formed in 2002 (6-0 in 2002; 5-1 in 2017). The Titans won all place in Indianapolis. The process culminates with the draft from April 29 to three road games against AFC South foes for the first time since 2007. May 1 in Cleveland, Ohio. ¾ The Titans finished with a road record of 6-2 in 2020, giving them six The Titans currently own the 22nd overall pick in Round 1 and seven road wins for the first time since 2008. total selections—one each in Rounds 1-5, two in Round 6, and none in ¾ The Titans finished 2020 infirst place in the NFL with a plus-11 turnover Round 7. Their picks include the 53rd overall selection in the second round differential. They had a total of 23 takeaways and 12 giveaways. and the 85th overall pick in the third round. Additionally, the Titans could be awarded a compensatory pick as a result of net free agency losses a year ¾ The Titans had 15 different players contribute at least one takeaway, ago. There are 32 such compensatory picks in Rounds 3-7, and the NFL which led the NFL. typically announces them in March. TITANS OFFENSE TEAM NOTES FOUNDATION IN PLACE ¾ The Titans tied for second in the NFL in total offense (396.4 yards per While roster turnover remains a constant in the NFL, the Titans have a game), placed second in rushing offense (168.1), and ranked fourth in firm foundation upon which to build. In addition to ownership, management scoring offense (30.7 yards per game). and coaching continuity, a nucleus of key players is under contract. The ¾ The Titans finished the season with the most total yards in franchise group on offense includes Pro Bowl quarterback Ryan Tannehill, 2,000- history (6,343), the most first downs in franchise history (381) and the yard running back Derrick Henry and burgeoning star and Pro Bowl second-most total points in franchise history (491).