The 2021 season was the Tennessee Titans' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 62nd overall, their 25th in the state of Tennessee, and their fourth under head coachMike Vrabel. After a 34–3 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the Titans clinched the AFC South for the second consecutive season. It would be the first time since 1960–1962 that the franchise would win its division in back-to-back seasons. The Titans finished 12–5, improving on their 11–5 record from the prior year and earning the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The season ended with a 19–16 loss to eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals, the third consecutive playoff loss.
On January 15, 2021, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was hired by the Atlanta Falcons to be their head coach after Smith helped the Titans reach franchise-high offensive production in 2020.[1][2] Smith had been the Titans offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons and had been with the team since 2011. On January 29, 2021, tight ends coach Todd Downing was promoted to offensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen was promoted to defensive coordinator.[3] Bowen had been the de facto defensive coordinator in 2020, but his defense that season was ranked 30th in sacks and 28th in yards allowed per game.[4]
The Titans signed 14 players to futures contracts on January 11, 2021.[5] Tight end Jared Pinkney was signed to a futures contract later on January 13, 2021.[6] Linebacker Davin Bellamy and defensive lineman Daylon Mack were signed to futures contacts the next day on January 14, 2021.[7] Wide receiver Mason Kinsey was signed to a futures contract on January 21, 2021.[8] Finally, defensive back Maurice Smith was signed to a futures contract on February 1, 2021.[9]
Titans received their 100th pick as a compensatory selection for the loss of Jack Conklin to the free agency market.[10]
Jacksonville traded a sixth-round selection (185) to Tennessee in exchange for a seventh-round selection (249) and linebacker Kamalei Correa.[11]
Kansas City traded a sixth-round selection (215) to Tennessee in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round selection originally acquired from New England via Denver.[12]
The Titans began 0–1 for the first time since 2018, giving up six sacks on Ryan Tannehill. Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones alone had five sacks, tying a Cardinals franchise record and earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. The Cardinals got up 17-0 in the second quarter before Tannehill ran in for a touchdown, however the extra point was missed by new kicker Michael Badgley. The Cardinals continued dominating on both sides of the ball, with Kyler Murray throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, and the defense holding Derrick Henry to 58 yards on 17 carries. Badgley would go on to miss a field goal as well, being waived the next day. The Titans only scored one touchdown, a pass from Tannehill to A. J. Brown, in the entire second half. The Titans would lose 38-13.
The Titans started the game slow, down 24-9 in the third quarter and 30-16 in the fourth. However they came back to tie, with Derrick Henry scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left, making it 30-30 and forcing the game into overtime. New kicker Randy Bullock, kicked a game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime to win 33-30. Henry rushed 35 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Henry would also catch a career high six receptions for 55 yards, winning AFC Offensive Player of the Week and FedEx Ground Player of the Week for his performance. Wide receiver Julio Jones caught six catches for 128 yards in his first 100-yard game with the Titans. Bullock made four of his five kicks, and would remain the Titans kicker for the rest of the season.
TEN – Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
The Titans continued their season by beating the Colts 25-16, dropping the Colts to their first 0-3 start since 2011. The Titans offense turned the ball over three times, however the Titans defense only allowed the Colts to score one touchdown in the game and force them to try four field goal attempts. The Titans defense also held the Colts to just 25% on third down conversions and sacked Carson Wentz two times with 10 quarterback hits. Ryan Tannehill completed 18-of-27 passes for 197 yards, while also rushing for 56 yards on five carries. Derrick Henry rushed 28 times for 113 yards, once again winning the FedEx Ground Player of the Week. The Titans suffered several injuries in the game, with LB Bud Dupree already sidelined prior, WR A. J. Brown exiting the game in the first quarter, WR Julio Jones being unable to play in the final stages, and losing CB Kristian Fulton for a stretch.
The game lead tied or changed five times as Ryan Tannehill, overcoming seven sacks, completed a two-yard score to Cameron Batson that forced overtime. After a Matt Ammendola field goal in overtime Randy Bullock missed a 49-yard attempt. It was Tennessee’s fifth loss in the last nine meetings with the Jets and first overtime game against New York since a 31-28 loss in 1980.
The Titans edged the Bills 34–31, winning on a fourth down stop of Bills quarterback Josh Allen at their 3-yard line in the final thirty seconds. The game lead changed seven times as Derrick Henry rushed for three touchdowns and 143 yards; he also caught two passes for thirteen yards. Ryan Tannehill ran in a touchdown and completed eighteen passes for 216 yards; he completed fourteen of his last seventeen passes after starting with just four of his first twelve.
This was the 55th career meeting between the two teams since founders Bud Adams and Lamar Hunt co-founded the American Football League but only the fifth meeting in Tennessee. It was also the twelfth meeting since they were the Houston Oilers. With the win the Titans moved to a 9-2 lifetime record against Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
IND – Michael Pittman Jr. – 10 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD
The Titans rallied to the overtime win and only their third sweep of the Colts since formation of the AFC South. But running back Derrick Henry was lost for the rest of the regular season with a foot injury that necessitated surgery and also the signing of Adrian Peterson.
In their first game without Henry, the Titans accounted for just 194 total yards on offense, but won due to a strong performance by their defense, which set up several short fields and intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on two consecutive plays in the second quarter, with the second pick being returned for a touchdown.[18]
A Saints red zone interception was negated by a questionable roughing the passer call, which set up the Titans with 1st & Goal at the one yard line, resulting in a touchdown for Tennessee
With this win, moving the Titans to 11-5, the Titans would clinch back-to-back division titles for the first time since 1960–1962, when the Titans were still in the Eastern Division of the American Football League.
^ abTennessee finished ahead of Kansas City based on head-to-head victory.
^ abLas Vegas finished ahead of New England based on win percentage in common games (5–1 vs. 2–4 against: Miami, Dallas, LA Chargers, Cleveland, and Indianapolis).
^ abcIndianapolis finished ahead of Miami and Los Angeles based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of LA Chargers based on win percentage in common games (5–1 vs. 2–4 against: New England, Las Vegas, Houston, Baltimore, and NY Giants).
^ abCleveland finished ahead of Baltimore based on division record (3–3 vs. 1–5).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
