Tannehill using devastating playoff loss as fuel going into 2022 season

No quarterback has won more games over his first three seasons with the Tennessee franchise than Ryan Tannehill, who has posted a 30-13 record for the Titans.

The problem? He is 2-3 in the postseason.

Worse is Tannehill and the Titans losing three straight playoff games, with the past two on their home field. The most painful came in January, when Tennessee was the AFC’s No. 1 seed and Tannehill was intercepted three times – the last with 20 seconds left in a 19-16 loss to Cincinnati.

Tannehill goes into his fourth season needing to prove 2021 was simply an off year and that he can win when it matters the most.

“It’s just fuel,” Tannehill said. “You look at things in your past and experiences that you’ve been through and you can learn from them and you can use them as fuel as you move forward. So that’s the thought here in moving forward is attacking this year, each and every day and try to get the most out of it.”

Tannehill became the first quarterback since Warren Moon between 1987 and 1993 to lead the franchise to three straight playoff berths. Even as the Titans went 12-5, Tannehill, who spent his first seven seasons with the Dolphins, had his worst statistical season since replacing Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback in mid-October 2019.

He threw his fewest touchdowns (21), and his 14 interceptions were one more than he had in his first two seasons in Tennessee combined. It didn’t help that Tannehill was one of only six Titans to start every game in 2021, when Tennessee used an NFL-record 91 players — the most for a non-strike season.

Then came the playoff loss.

Tannehill talked in May about how much he struggled to deal with that loss, even using therapy to help with the sleepless nights.

General manager Jon Robinson also took that loss tough and said he talked with Tannehill. For the GM, the key is moving on and not letting one loss fester. Robinson thinks Tannehill has turned the page based on what he’s seen out of the quarterback entering his 11th NFL season.

“Juice. Energy. Leadership. Fired-up to be out here,” Robinson said. “Working with the new players that are on the team about, ‘Hey, when you run this route this way, look for the ball, because this is what I’m looking for out of you on this certain route.’ He’s into it. Ready to roll.”

ELSEWHERE

Bucs: The first free agent Tampa Bay signed after Tom Brady ended his retirement was center Ryan Jensen.

It wasn’t a coincidence. Brady is very particular about the player who snaps him the football and keeping Jensen was a big priority.

The 31-year-old is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection and signed a three-year, $39 million contract with $26.5 million guaranteed one day after Brady announced he was returning to the Bucs.

But on Thursday, Jensen sustained a left knee injury in the final period of practice during a twominute drill, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Jensen had to be carted off the field with a trainer holding his knee and ankle in place as teammates gathered around to shake his hand and wish him well.

Neither coach Todd Bowles nor general manager Jason Licht had any immediate updates on Jensen’s condition after practice, but their tones indicated the injury could be serious.

“Right now, we feel terrible for Jensen,” Licht said. “Don’t have any update on that. We won’t for some time.”

Chiefs: Kansas City signed defensive end

Carlos Dunlap to a oneyear deal worth up to $8 million on Thursday, giving them an experienced pass rusher opposite Frank Clark and first-round pick George Karlaftis another veteran presence.

The 33-year-old Dunlap was released in March by the Seahawks, who acquired him in a trade with Cincinnati in 2020 and had signed him to a twoyear deal. Dunlap had 8 1⁄2 sacks last season.