Taylor Lewan defends Ryan Tannehill after Titans' loss to Bengals

Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan joined The Pivot Podcast days after his squad lost in the NFL divisional round to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Titans were the No. 1 seed in the AFC—the only team in the conference with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout—but still fell 19-16 to the fourth-seeded Bengals after a last-second field goal by rookie Evan McPherson.

Most people are blaming Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill and his three interceptions for the upset, but Lewan won't stand for that.

"I've been thinking about it for three days straight," the 30-year-old Pro Bowler told hosts Channing Crowder, Ryan Clark and Fred Taylor. "The way we lost, too—we had nine sacks. We sacked Joe Burrow nine times. That dude couldn't pay for air. Like, we were destroying them. As an offense, we need to equal that. We can't operate the way we did."

Lewan continued: "I know people are mad at Tannehill. That's kind of where everyone's starting to point the finger—at Ryan Tannehill—but really, if you look at Tanne and what he did when he came in 2019 against the Denver Broncos, he changed the franchise. ... I know that all these people that are mad at him, at one time were praising because of the risks he was taking."

Lewan also caped up for All-Pro running back Derrick Henry, who was returning from a fractured foot suffered during Tennessee's overtime win against Indianapolis on Oct. 31 when Clark pressed him on the Titans' inability to gain one yard on third or fourth down early in the fourth quarter.

"The best back in football," Lewan called Henry, despite Clark's disagreement.

Regardless, the Titans will be sitting at home this Sunday while the Bengals visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium for the AFC Championship Game and opportunity to take on either the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13.

Watch the full Pivot episode below.