Titans have most statistically dominant pass rush duo in NFL

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans’ pass rush has not always been dominant during the 2023 season. There have been a handful of games this season that the Titans have been completely ineffective at getting after the quarterback. But the team’s defensive line has come to play and really found their groove lately. Now Tennessee is […]

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Denico Autry, Harold Landry
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans’ pass rush has not always been dominant during the 2023 season.

There have been a handful of games this season that the Titans have been completely ineffective at getting after the quarterback. But the team’s defensive line has come to play and really found their groove lately. Now Tennessee is tied for 10th in team sacks with 45 on the season.

But even more shocking that that is the fact that the Titans have the most statistically dominant pass rush duo in the sport.

Denico Autry has recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks so far in 2023. The 33-year-old veteran seems to be getting better with age. Combining his natural power with his relentless pursuit of the football has been fruitful for Autry in 2023. He has stepped up in a big way with Jeffery Simmons missing significant time.

Then there’s Harold Landry, the superstar outside linebacker and former Pro Bowler who had 12 sacks in 2021 before a torn ACL took away his 2022 season. Landry got off to a slow start in 2023, but has started to look more dominant and recorded 5.5 sacks in December alone. Landry’s total is now at 10.5 for the season.

But here’s the crazy part…Autry and Landry are the only pair of teammates around the league that both have double-digit sacks. There is no other team with two defenders over 10 sacks right now. Hard to believe, but true.

“I didn’t know about that until someone told me about it,” Landry said when asked about that stat in the Titans locker room earlier this week. “But it’s crazy. It just goes to the work that we’ve put in and the work that the defensive staff puts in as well.“

If the Titans find a way to bring Autry, who is an unrestricted free agent this off-season, back into the fold, they’ll be sitting pretty up front next season. Autry, Arden Key, Jeffery Simmons, and a full season of Harold Landry at his best could be a formidable defensive front. That's something to build around.

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