Sure, the Titans' D needs more turnovers, but giveaways were the team's big issue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans’ defense made exceptional gains in 2021.

They had 24 more sacks, allowed an average of 6.6 fewer points per game, cut third-down conversions by 15.2 percent and ranked 16 spots better in yards.Amani Hooker forces a fumble

© Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

But after their 19-16 playoff loss to the Bengals, the Titans' top guys were lamenting the one area where things didn’t get better. The 2020 Titans managed 23 regular-season takeaways and the 2021 team had 22.

In the game that ended Tennessee’s season, Ryan Tannehill threw three bad interceptions and the Titans’ defense answered with only one interception – Amani Hooker’s grab just as the ball hit the turf of a tipped Joe Burrow pass.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at paulkuharsky.com. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and one of the longest-tenured Titans beat reporters in the franchise's history.