INDIANAPOLIS – The support for Ryan Tannehill was natural.

Following the quarterback’s poor performance in a stunner of a divisional-round loss to the Bengals at Nissan Stadium, it was automatic that a coach and a GM would back their quarterback. They’d back any player coming off a poor performance.USATSI 17549703

© George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Titans won 12 games, their division and their conference's No. 1 seed, but failed to advance in the playoffs when one win would have earned them a home AFC Championship Game.

Tannehill threw three interceptions against Cincinnati, completing a 21-turnover season, shrinking in the biggest moment for the second season in a row.

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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 served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee for 11 years and is the longest-tenured Titans beat reporter in the franchise's history.