NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are well aware of how much of an opportunity they cost themselves in their 19-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Having thrown three interceptions in that game, Ryan Tannehill may have felt it the most.
«It's a deep scar,» Tannehill said of the loss. «Every time I closed my eyes I kind of re-watched the game. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep for weeks. I was in a dark place and it took me a while, a lot of work to get out of it.
»I've worked through it, but therapy, talking to people, time helped. It took a lot of work to get through it."
Tannehill said he had a lot of sessions and is now able to look back on the game and learn from it while moving on. The veteran quarterback had been going to therapy for a little while. But the sting from the playoff loss brought a new level of pain.
«This is the first time that I absolutely needed it [therapy] to pull me out of a dark space,» Tannehill said.
Tannehill said the loss was a scar that he'll carry with him for the rest of his life. But feels it's something that he can serve as fuel for him to work hard to get ready for the 2022 season with a «desire to win like he never had before.»
Being back at the Titans' facility working with his teammates has helped Tannehill shift his focus from the abrupt ending to the 2021 season. He'll also soon have a new quarterback that he will be working with.
The Titans' rookies haven't reported yet, but when they do, quarterback Malik Willis, 2022 third-round pick, will be among those first-year players.
Tannehill said the Titans didn't notify him that they were selecting Willis with the No. 86 overall pick, although he said he texted Willis soon after the Titans
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