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Titans' Ryan Tannehill doesn't see Bengals matchup as a revenge game from playoff loss

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  • Turron DavenportESPN

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    • Covered Eagles for USA Today
    • Covered the Ravens for Baltimore Times
    • Played college football at Cheyney University

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The look on the faces of quarterback Ryan Tannehill and other Tennessee Titans players said it all as they walked off the field after a crushing home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.

Having finished the regular season with the top seed in the AFC and earning a first-round bye, the Titans had a golden opportunity to do something special, but it was swept from under their feet.

With three interceptions in the 19-16 loss, Tannehill bore the bulk of the criticism. He called the loss “brutal,” saying it would take a long time to get over it.

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Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw three interceptions in Tennessee’s Divisional Round playoff loss last season. The Titans are set to play the Bengals on Sunday. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

“That was last year, and half this team wasn’t even here,” Tannehill said about the matchup. “This is a new team facing another new team. Obviously, it’s a game that we want to win. But it has nothing to do with last year.”

Tannehill is right. The Titans only returned 29 players from last season.

But through eight games this season — he Everything you need this week:
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Tannehill threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 27-17 win over the Green Bay Packers. It was his most passing yards in a game since Week 2 of last season when he threw for 347 yards against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rookie receiver Treylon Burks came alive in the Packers game, posting seven receptions for 111 yards. Burks went through his share of trials and tribulations during minicamp when he faced questions about his conditioning and asthma which kept him from participating.

Through it all, Tannehill was a steadying force for Burks and showed confidence in the rookie from the start.

“He has been really encouraging,” Burks said. “He’s always making sure that I’m in the right spots. He just has always had confidence in me.”

Burks obviously didn’t play in last season’s postseason game, but his presence the last two games after missing the previous four with a turf toe injury has maybe sparked two of Tannehill’s best two performances of the season.

That’s the confidence they hope to build on against the Bengals, whether it’s a redemption game or not.