State of the 2023 Tennessee Titans: Can Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill spark return to playoffs?

Where does your squad stand in 2023? Adam Rank sets the table by providing a State of the Franchise look at all 32 teams, zeroing in on the key figures to watch and setting the stakes for the season to come.

Members of the Titans organization, Titans fans around the world and those who are convinced that the only Titans I truly love come from Cal State Fullerton ...

Nashville's Titans appear to be at a crossroads. From 2019 to 2021, they made the playoffs three straight times and won the AFC South twice. They entered Week 12 of last season with a comfortable lead in the division -- and then they blew that lead, missing the postseason for just the second time in the Mike Vrabel era. Can Tennessee recapture the South? Good question. But before we look forward, we must take a quick glance back.

One high from last season: Improving to 7-3 in Week 11. Ryan Tannehill threw for 333 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football, and the Titans defeated the Packers, 27-17. They'd recovered from an 0-2 start to the season by winning seven of eight, and that third consecutive AFC South title was within view.

One low from last season: Failing to win another game after that. Following the post-TNF mini-bye, Tennessee lost a spirited contest with the Bengals by four points (20-16), then dropped the remaining six games, including two against the division-capturing Jaguars.

Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill. For the second straight year, the Titans used a Day 2 draft choice on a QB who could potentially replace Tannehill. It's no surprise that Tannehill was seen by his head coach as the starter after the draft, or that Tannehill was reportedly well ahead of the other QBs on the roster at minicamp. 2022 third-round