SOURCE: Mark Everett Kelly/CKMagicSports.com/WorldWideSportsRadio.com/"My Scars Tell A Story"
https://worldwidesportsradio.com/henry-tannehill-keys-in-titans-in-historic-run
Henry and Tannehill Keys in Titans in Historic Run
Entering the 2019 NFL season, very few prognosticators figured the Tennessee Titans would be playing in their fifth AFC Championship Game in franchise history.
After a successful five-year run from 1999-2003, where they appeared in two AFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XXXIV, they fell on hard times. Only three times in the previous 17 seasons has the franchise reached the postseason, winning just one game.
After a dominant 43-13 victory at Cleveland to start the season, Tennessee fell flat, losing four of their next five games. Their offense was non-existent in those losses, totaling just 31 points.
The Titans decided to replace franchise QB Marcus Mariota with Ryan Tannehill, who was once viewed the same way as a member of the Miami Dolphins. However, injuries and inconsistency ended his tenure leaving many to doubt his ability to lead a consistent, productive offense.
Tannehill’s presence ignited the Titans stagnant offense in consecutive wins against the Chargers & Buccaneers (completed just under 71 percent of his passes while throwing for 505 yards, 5 TD, and 1 INT). However, a loss to the Panthers dropped their record under 500 again at 4-5. While Tannehill’s calm demeanor helped provide direction, something else was missing.
Enter Derrick Henry.
Derrick Henry Rushing Numbers
Last 8 Games (Includes Postseason)
Rushing Totals (Last 8 Games)
Total Yards
1,273
Yards Per Game
159.1
Attempts
203
Yards Per Carry
6.3
Touchdowns
11
>> 588 yards, 6.1 YPC, 196.0 YPG, 4 TD in last 3 games
Tennessee won their next four games behind Henry’s running, as he averaged 149.8 YPG and 6.7 YPC. A sore left hamstring saw Henry post only 86 rushing yards in a loss to the Texans and miss their 38-28 loss at New Orleans.
Facing a win and in scenario against division rival Houston (who had already clinched the AFC South), Henry returned with a vengeance. His 211 rushing yards helped him become the first Heisman Trophy winner since Barry Sanders in 1997 to win the NFL rushing title, while also clinching the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC for the Titans.
As the Titans prepare to take on the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, Henry is enjoying a historic playoff run (literally). He set an NFL record on Saturday in defeating the AFC #1 seed Baltimore Ravens 28-12, posting his third straight game with at least 180 rushing yards. That followed his 182-yard performance that ended the Patriots run of eight consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.
QB Throwing for under 100 Yds, Consecutive Playoff Wins
NFL Playoffs, Super Bowl Era
Yds/Opponent
Yds/Opponent
2019 Ryan Tannehill, TEN
72 at Patriots
88 at Ravens
1974 Terry Bradshaw, PIT
95 at Raiders
96 vs Vikings
After finishing the regular season averaging 228.5 passing yards per game with 22 TD and just 6 INT during the regular season, Tannehill has played a different role in the postseason. In both the Titans postseason wins, Tannehill has thrown for under 100 yards (72 at Patriots, 88 at Ravens). He is only the second QB in NFL playoff history to win consecutive playoff games without throwing for 100 yards in either game (Terry Bradshaw threw for 95 & 96 yards in wins over the Raiders & Vikings).
While Tannehill’s run at NFL playoff history could not happen without help from his teammates, perhaps its overall meaning can be seen in another example. The only other QB in franchise history to throw for under 100 yards and win a postseason game was Steve McNair. McNair finished 13-24 for 76 yards in the Titans 22-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the 1999 AFC Wild Card Game. Most people refer to that game as the “Music City Miracle”, which Kevin Dyson returned a kickoff 75 yards for the game-winning TD after receiving a cross-field lateral from Frank Wycheck. Could the NFL world be witness to another Titans Super Bowl run featuring this rare feet by a QB?
Craig Morton set the NFL postseason record for fewest completions (4) and passing yards (38) in a NFL postseason win when the Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions 5-0 in the 1970 NFC Divisional Round.
If Tannehill and the Titans are able to defeat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game Sunday, they will join the Dallas Cowboys as the only teams to feature two different QB leading their team to a Super Bowl in the same postseason they won a game throwing for under 100 yards.
On December 26, 1970 in the first ever NFC Divisional Round, Dallas Cowboys QB Craig Morton set NFL records by throwing for the fewest yards (38) and completing the fewest passes (4) in a postseason win. Morton and the Cowboys defeated the Lions 5-0 on their way to losing to the Colts in Super Bowl V. A year later, Roger Staubach threw for 99 yards while leading the Cowboys to a 20-12 win over the Vikings in the NFC Divisional Round. Dallas went on to win their first Super Bowl, defeating the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.
Fewest Regular Season Wins, Advanced To Super Bowl
Non-Strike Seasons
W-L
Super Bowl Result
2011 New York Giants
9-7
Defeated Patriots 21-17
2008 Arizona Cardinals
9-7
Lost vs Steelers 27-23
1979 Los Angeles Rams
9-7
Loss vs Rams 31-19
1967 Green Bay Packers
9-4-1
Defeated Raiders, 33-14
>>Tennessee Titans (9-7) at Kansas City in AFC Championship
What will the Titans show the NFL against the Chiefs? If it’s anything like what we have seen so far, Tennessee might become just the fifth team to win nine regular-season games and advance to the Super Bowl.
The NFL season has grown into a mutation of one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. Fans saw history made seemingly every week of the season, and Wild Card weekend kept that trend going.
The Divisional Round of the NFL postseason is my favorite weekend of the season. This year's matchups provide fans who appreciate reminiscing about playoff games from yesteryear with a bevy of memories.
Saturday, Jan. 11: No. 6 Minnesota Vikings at No. 1 San Francisco 49ers, 4:35 p.m. NBC
While this is the first foray into the postseason for Jimmy Garappolo's San Francisco 49ers, hosting divisional round playoff games is not rare for this franchise.
Saturday marks the 15th time the 49ers will receive a first-round bye and home playoff game. Saturday also marks the fifth time they will be taking on the Minnesota Vikings.
San Francisco has won three of the four previous matchups, culminating in a memorable three-year stretch from 1987-89.
The 1988 & 1989 49ers avenged one of the biggest upsets in NFL playoff history, outscoring the Vikings 75-22 in consecutive divisional round matchups. The 49ers won their third & fourth Super Bowl titles of the 1980s in those seasons. Despite accomplishing that significant feat, the sting of the 1987 Divisional Round playoff loss at home still left a mark.
The 1987 49ers were a result of consecutive playoff beatings by the New York Giants at the Meadowlands in 1985 & 1986. San Francisco lost those games by a combined score of 66-6.
In 1987 the 49ers featured a re-energized Joe Montana at QB. After appearing in just eight games and throwing one more INT than TD in 1986, Montana came ready to play in 1987.
Montana threw a career-high 31 TD in only 13 games (the players walked out after Week 2 & the NFL used replacement players for three games). Jerry Rice made people forget about his fumble on the opening drive of their playoff loss at New York the year before, by setting an NFL record with 22 TD receptions (in just 12 games!).
The 1987 49ers finished first in total yards on offense and defense. They won their games by an average of 13.8 PPG.
The 1987 Minnesota Vikings finished with a record of 8-7, earning them the final playoff spot in the NFC. The Vikings quickly showed their postseason run would be memorable, easily defeating the New Orleans Saints 44-10 in the franchise's first postseason game. The Saints finished 12-3, owning the second-best record in the NFL.
Heading into Candlestick Park, few gave Minnesota a chance. Anthony Carter was in his third season with the Vikings, coming over from the USFL. Carter made a name for himself at the University of Michigan & the Michigan Panthers (USFL) by making big plays.
Carter set the NCAA record for yards per play (17.4). He scored the game-winning TD in the first USFL Championship Game in 1983, helping Michigan upset Philadelphia. During the 1987 regular season, Carter led the NFL in yards per reception (23.4), becoming just the fourth WR since the merger to reach that number.
Carter kept his penchant for playing well in big moments during the Vikings win over the Saints, setting an NFL record for most punt return yards (143 - since broken by Allen Rossum of ATL in 2005). and giving the Vikings a lead they never relinquished with his 84-yard punt return.
Against San Francisco, Carter took his game to another level. Carter finished with 227 receiving yards on ten receptions while adding 51 yards rushing (30) & returning (21). Overall, his 278 total yards from scrimmage ranks as the third-highest total for an NFL postseason game since the merger.
After putting together his most impressive regular season in his career, Montana struggled in the first half, completing just 12 of 26 passes for 109 yards. The final blow for Montana occurred just before halftime. Trailing 13-3, Montana was intercepted by Najee Mustafaa, who returned it 45 yards to give the Vikings a 20-3 halftime lead.
Bill Walsh then did the unimaginable. He replaced Montana to start the second half with Steve Young. Keep in mind, at this point in his career, Young was not the NFL MVP. He was not playoff-tested. He was a talented QB who had a lot to prove. Young did his best, completing 12 of 17 passes for 158 yards and a TD, while also running for 72 yards and a TD. Walsh's move set the stage for the QB controversy that started during training camp in 1988.
The Vikings 36-24 victory shocked everyone around the NFL, including Niners owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. who made changes to the 49ers front office. Bill Walsh, winner of Super Bowls XVI and XIX, would later call the game "the most traumatic experience I've had in sports." Asked immediately after the game, if Walsh would be back as head coach, DeBartolo said, "Until you hear otherwise." He stayed on as coach, but Walsh was no longer team president.
For Anthony Carter and the Vikings, their season ended the next week in Washington. Carter finished with 642 yards from scrimmage during their 1987 playoff run, a record that still stands for a single postseason.
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