NFL 2019 regular season rushing leader Derrick Henry; photos courtesy titansonline.com
The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! As we say goodbye to 2019 and welcome to 2020, let me wish you and your loved ones good fortune. Sports can bring us all together. We cheer together, celebrate together and mourn a loss together. Yet politics can divide us like nothing else. I truly hate all this ugly and pointless political discourse. My life goes on no matter who is elected president. Work, play, rest, repeat. Yet we have people who would prefer another great depression rather than embrace this booming economy. People like to whine. I get it.
You have unemployment at a 50-year low, Amazon just announced its most profitable Christmas to date, and the stock market is closing in on its best year in nearly two decades. So, as 2020 gears up, remember that. Because if you listen to many of the voices out there, they would have you falsely believe the United States is currently in a dire situation. The opportunities in this country, compared to the rest of the world, are substantial. Yet like I said, people like to whine.
You know what I worry about? My Tennessee Titans! Yep, I am more concerned with a football team than I am with any political topic. You say the ice caps are melting. I don’t care! You say the government is spying on us. I don’t care! You say the ocean is filling up with plastic. I don’t care! Okay, I am lying about that. Plastic does suck, and we should probably stop using it. So that’s my opening rant. I hope we can embrace a new decade with open minds. Let’s focus on what matters. For me, it’s myself, my faith, my family, my dog, my property and the game of football.
Regarding football, I think it’s about time for some Titans talk! I mean, the Titans did just make the playoffs and I didn’t expect King Henry to claim the 2019 NFL rushing title, but he did.
Derrick Henry, after taking a week off to heal, came into the last game of the season and dominated with over 200 yards rushing and three scores. Henry’s league-leading 1,540 yards put him 46 yards ahead of the next best this season. Henry won the rushing title on an amazing 53-yard touchdown run.
The Titans secured a playoff spot with a win and will end up playing in Foxboro as we enter the New Year. The Titans managed to secure the final AFC playoff spot while the New England Patriots lost to Miami and will now enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. I won’t make any projections here, but I will say this isn’t your typical Patriots team. Tom Brady is older and manages rather than dictates. The Patriots defense is one of the best in the league and it will be a tough environment to win in.
The Titans would be wise to ride the hot hands of Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry, and that Titans defense must make old man Brady feel pain. I would never bet against Brady, but it’s obvious this Patriots team is more vulnerable than ever. I believe in this Titans team. If the Patriots had beat the Dolphins in the final game of the season, the Titans would be playing in Kansas City, not New England. I believe the Titans drew a better match-up vs. New England. We will soon see!
The regular season is over and, regardless of what happens in the postseason, the Tennessee Titans have a few reasons to be excited about the future. Let’s take rookie receiver A.J. Brown, for example. Brown was the 51st pick in the 2019 draft, with numerous receivers drafted ahead of him. Brown eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving this season and looks like a superstar talent. If the draft were redone, A.J Brown would more than likely be the top receiving prospect right now. Titans fans should be very excited—this kid is young, hungry and a true number-one receiver, something Tennessee has desperately needed for many years now.
The big off-season story will be discussing new contracts for Tannehill and Henry. Can they keep and satisfy both players whose contracts expire after this season? Does someone get paid big and the other get a franchise tag? I won’t speculate but after this season Titans fans will sure want to see those two together at the start of 2020. But why bring this up right now? It’s playoff time, and the Titans made the playoffs! We have plenty of time to speculate after this season wraps up.
Just remember that Ryan Tannehill took over an offense run by Marcus Mariota that was ranked 26th overall in scoring, and he ended the season ranked in the Top 10. With Tannehill under center the Titans had the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league. Tannehill finished six games this season with a passer rating over 130. Only three quarterbacks in the history of the league have accomplished that. He finished the season 201/286 (70.3%) for 2,742 yards with 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions. That’s a total passer rating of 117.5 and, ladies and gentlemen, that right there equals MVP numbers and a worthy application to becoming this team’s franchise quarterback.
This team started 2–4 and literally lost games due to its kicking woes and Marcus. That’s a long way from Tannehill going 7–3 to finish the season and making the playoffs. No one saw this offensive explosion happening and it has given Titans fans real confidence in their team.
This team has made the playoffs two of the last three years, and what fans should be excited about is the team is getting better. We have a signal caller and young playmakers. The defense has its moments and at times they look great. I just pray that the Titans don’t have to rely on their kicker any time soon. Greg Joseph has yet to attempt a field goal as a newly signed kicker and we’re about to enter the playoffs. I made a vow never to pray for a Titans victory. I feel my prayers should be directed elsewhere. But I may break that vow . . . ? Titan up!
What’s my Super Bowl prediction? The Titans vs. Packers! That’s my dream prediction. My realistic prediction is the Ravens vs. Saints. I just believe it will be tough for anyone to beat Baltimore. I believe the Chiefs may be the only team who can line up and match the Ravens. We will soon see!
That’s it, my friends. Time to wrap this article up. It doesn’t matter who you cheer for, but loyalty does matter. We all can’t be Alabama fans or Patriot fans and win numerous championships year in and year out. But we can stay loyal, and that has more value than any amount of championships. I will be a happy Titans fan if I can just get one ring before my time ends. Two would be nice, or maybe a Titans dynasty . . . I guess no one is happy with a little. We always want more, and that’s what makes life great. I will be rooting for the Titans until the end of my days. Titan up!
