Why Titans' newly revealed schedule news is a big positive for the team in 2022
The Tennessee Titans learned on Monday that they'll be heading north to play the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in week two of the 2022 NFL season. This is fantastic news for the Titans. For one, it's always fun to play in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The Titans tend to get neglected […]
The Tennessee Titans learned on Monday that they'll be heading north to play the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in week two of the 2022 NFL season.
This is fantastic news for the Titans.
For one, it's always fun to play in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The Titans tend to get neglected on a national level, so this will be a nice chance for Tennessee to set the tone for the 2022 season.
Most importantly, though, this matchup in week two means the Titans will avoid playing in Buffalo during the coldest part of the season (when it often gets below freezing in Buffalo).
Avoiding Buffalo in December is something every team likely hopes to do. But it's especially important for the Titans, a team that statistically isn't a great cold-weather team.
According to a study from last summer, the Titans had the third-worst offense over the last decade in temperatures that were 40 degrees or less.
The Titans' have played 18 games in sub-40-degree weather since 2010. Tennessee is 6-12 in those games.
Additionally, quarterback Ryan Tannehill isn't at his best in cold weather.
Tannehill has a career passer rating of 91.7 (in 2019, he set a career-high with a 117.5 passer rating).
When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, so does Tannehill's passer rating (Tannehill's rating is 72.9 when the temps get below 40 degrees).
The matchup against the Bills is going to be tough regardless of when it's played. Josh Allen is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. And the Bills' defense improved this offseason by adding pass rusher Von Miller. The Titans will have to play one of their best games of the season to win this game on the road.
But at least it won't be too cold to grip a football. This game being played in September is a big advantage for Tennessee. The Titans could still end up in Buffalo in the playoffs, but winning this game could ensure that the road to the Super Bowl goes through Nashville instead.
Featured image via Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK