Two years can feel like an eternity in the NFL. Just ask the Tennessee Titans. Two years ago, they were the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Entering 2023, they might be the worst team in the AFC South, and it likely will be the final season in a Titans uniform for QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry.

A Closer Look at the Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Season

Time for some new wallpapers #WallpaperWednesday pic.twitter.com/BjH30GrfFj

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) June 28, 2023

• NFL Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 2: at Houston Texans — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 5: vs. Tennessee Titans — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 9: at Carolina Panthers — 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 10: at New England Patriots — 9:30 a.m. ET (NFLN)
• NFL Week 11: BYE
• NFL Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 13: at Tennessee Titans — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — TBD (TBD)
• NFL Week 16: at Atlanta Falcons — 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
• NFL Week 17: vs. Las Vegas Raiders — 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFL Week 18: vs. Houston Texans — TBD (TBD)

What’s Going on in the Organization?

The Titans didn’t make the Super Bowl following the 2021 season when they had the AFC’s top seed as they were knocked off in the Divisional Round at home by Cincinnati. Last year, the Titans slipped to 7-10 and fired GM Jon Robinson during the year in a big surprise. Tennessee was 7-5 and still comfortably ahead in the AFC South when the franchise fired Robinson on December 6. Owner Amy Adams Strunk cited a belief that “there is more to be done and higher aspirations to be met” in a release announcing Robinson’s exit. The Titans didn’t win another game, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The new GM is Ran Carthon, who previously spent two seasons as director of player personnel with the 49ers, after serving five seasons as the director of pro personnel in San Francisco. Carthon was one of seven candidates to interview for the position with the Titans. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk conducted the interviews along with a panel of advisers that included Titans coach Mike Vrabel when interviewing the finalists. So that pretty much tells you that Vrabel really runs the show.

At one point this offseason, it was reported that the Titans might release QB Ryan Tannehill and trade star running back and former NFL rushing king Derrick Henry, but both remain on the team as of now. Tannehill opened offseason practices as the starting quarterback and rookie second-round pick Will Levis is third on the depth chart, but Vrabel said that “whatever happens after that will be up to the players.

Levis, out of Kentucky, dropped to the second round and went 33rd overall after the Titans traded up to get him. That’s early enough to threaten Tannehill’s job security, but it’s also worth noting that the Titans passed on Levis at 11th overall (instead drafting offensive lineman Peter Skoronski) and didn’t trade back into the first round for him. The 2023 season will likely be a developmental opportunity for Levis, who also suffered a toe injury that hampered him for parts of his final college season. His 23 interceptions are an area for concern. Tennessee selected Malik Willis in the third round last year, but he struggled in limited opportunities in Year 1.

The Titans also took Henry’s possible long-term replacement in Round 3 in Tulane running back Tyjae Spears. Henry has two voidable years remaining on his contract, which means there’s a chance he’s in his final season with the Titans. Henry finished the 2022 season with the second-most total yards from scrimmage, with 1,936 yards, behind fellow former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, who ended the season with 2,053 yards. Henry has a shot in 2023 to become the third player in league history to record at least 10 rushing touchdowns in six consecutive seasons.

The Team Needs a Boost

The Titans finished last season with the worst offensive line in the NFL, so they needed to attack it in every way over the offseason. They committed significant money to Andre Dillard — a former first-round pick — but Dillard’s career thus far has been underwhelming with Philadelphia. He has allowed five sacks and 45 total pressures on a little more than 400 pass-blocking snaps in the NFL. . The Titans are hoping Skoronski, taken No. 11 overall in the draft, can help solidify an offensive line that allowed 49 sacks last season, the fifth-most in the league. Having started all 24 games at left tackle over the last two seasons, Skoronski comes to Tennessee as a plug-and-play prospect.

The defense continues to be led by one of the best tackles in the game in Jeffery Simmons, who signed a big new extension in April. A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Simmons was named second team All-Pro in 2022 after finishing the year with 53 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 43 quarterback pressures and nine tackles for a loss. In four NFL seasons, Simmons has tallied 196 tackles, 21 sacks, 135 quarterback pressures and 26 tackles for a loss.

Will They Improve This Season?

Tennessee is a 3.5-point underdog for Week 1 in New Orleans. The Titans will play two primetime games on the road – at Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football on November 2, and at Miami on Monday Night Football on December 11. The Titans are scheduled to play five of their last seven games at Nissan Stadium during the 2023 season, including the finale in Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team also will go to London to face Baltimore on October 15.

Overall, the Titans have the NFL’s 28th ranked strength of schedule, with an opponents’ win percentage of .448 based off last year’s record (127-157-4).

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READ MORE: Tennessee Titans 2023 NFL Season Betting Guide