Ryan Tannehill: It's a sick feeling in your gut
NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had plenty to prove heading into the final year of his contract with the Tennessee Titans. With not one, but two players drafted behind him as potential replacements and a new general manager at the helm, Tannehill's 2023 season was going to be an interesting watch. 16-of-34 for 198 […]
NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had plenty to prove heading into the final year of his contract with the Tennessee Titans. With not one, but two players drafted behind him as potential replacements and a new general manager at the helm, Tannehill's 2023 season was going to be an interesting watch.
16-of-34 for 198 yards and three interceptions is no way to start.
That was the Tennessee passer's stat line in a 16-15 road loss to the New Orleans Saints. Tannehill's job has not been in jeopardy at any point heading into this year. Plenty of people will be loudly second-guessing that idea and the Titans coaching staff after how their starting quarterback looked on Sunday.
"It's a sick feeling in your gut, obviously," said Tannehill. "Didn't go out and play the way we wanted to play. Weren't good enough in the red zone, missed opportunities, mistakes. All of it."
Interceptions are one thing. The missed opportunities are entirely another. Sunday's loss at New Orleans was the worst quarterback rating that Tannehill has registered in a single game (28.8). Tennessee's 41-7 road loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2022 had been the previous low (32.7).
Tannehill's infamous 19-16 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals rated him at 66.7.
Titans doom themselves in season opener against the Saints
NEW ORLEANS — Self-inflicted wounds cost the Tennessee Titans (0-1) an opportunity on Sunday that was theirs for the taking. Tennesee’s blunders saw them lose a 16-15 contest on the road to the New Orleans Saints (1-0). It is completely fair to say that this was a performance worthy of the saying “same old Titans.” […]
“It doesn't really matter, right?" Tannehill said, when asked to explain the three picks from his perspective. “You can walk through them, or whatever. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what happened. They are turnovers and we have to eliminate those to give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
He is correct, of course.
Buying potential grace from anyone with an explanation of how one throws a game away does not solve anything. Tannehill as a depreciating asset would still be a talking point. Fans will still call for either back-ups Malik Willis or Will Levis to get their respective chances at the first-string job.
The only difference now is that those who want a quarterback change can no longer be flatly dismissed.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
