Titans aren't fooling anyone with their latest comments
With the Cincinnati Bengals coming to Nashville this weekend for a Week 12 matchup, the Tennessee Titans have been making one thing very clear: Sunday's game is not about revenge. Titans coaches and players made it a point to emphasize that the 2022 Titans will not be looking back on their AFC Divisional Round playoff […]
With the Cincinnati Bengals coming to Nashville this weekend for a Week 12 matchup, the Tennessee Titans have been making one thing very clear: Sunday's game is not about revenge.
Titans coaches and players made it a point to emphasize that the 2022 Titans will not be looking back on their AFC Divisional Round playoff loss from last season when they take the field this weekend. This is a new year, a new roster, and an entirely new circumstance.
Mike Vrabel, Ryan Tannehill, Jeffery Simmons, and Kevin Byard all made comments to the media on Tuesday to set the record straight. For the Titans, this is not a revenge game.
Look, the Titans are saying all the right things. They don't want to overhype this game heading into the weekend. After all, this is just a regular season game with little impact on the Titans' playoff standing in the grand scheme of things.
But let's be honest…of course the Titans are still thinking about the playoff loss. Of course they want avenge the way things ended last season. Just because half of the roster is new doesn't make those emotions go away for the other half.
We heard all offseason about how Ryan Tannehill faced a large mental challenge following the loss, saying he went to a "dark place." It bothered him to go out like that after such a great year.
We have seen time and time again that Mike Vrabel never forgets. He is petty, in the best way possible, and will always get you back when you get him. Just last week we saw Vrabel put an exclamation point on a win over Green Bay with an unnecessary (and familiar) play call to make a statement.
And now we're supposed to believe the Titans aren't worried about getting revenge for the loss that killed their best chance to go to the Super Bowl since 2008?
The Titans aren't fooling anyone.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what Byard said in his answer to the media. Titans players and coaches are not calling this a revenge game, but that doesn't mean it isn't one for the fans. Every Titans fan still has a bitter taste in their mouth from January, and beating the Bengals in front of a home crowd is exactly what this team and fanbase needs to put that one in the rearview mirror.
Nissan Stadium should be rocking on Sunday. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
