The Tennessee Titans have found themselves in an early season rut, starting the 2024 NFL campaign with a troubling 0-2 record. Their most recent setback came at the hands of the New York Jets, who secured a 24-17 victory in Week 2. The spotlight of the Titans' loss was a crucial error from quarterback Will Levis.
Levis, who has a reputation for risk-taking, made a bold but flawed decision during the game, opting for a pass to Tyjae Spears that led to a game-changing fumble. The Jets capitalized on this mistake, turning it into points and widening the gap between the two teams. Offensive coordinator Callahan didn't mince words postgame, labeling the decision as "dumb."
Levis has been under scrutiny for his high-risk style, a trait that many analysts believe contributed to his slide in the 2023 NFL Draft, where he was picked 33rd overall. Known for his "gunslinger" mentality, Levis himself admitted to being overly reckless during his college years. "I think a lot of people, when they hear gunslinger, they think about recklessness. I definitely feel like I was a little too reckless in my college career and tried to make some throws that I would want to take back," Levis confessed. He acknowledged that while he had tried to tone down this aspect of his game, old habits evidently persist.
This season, Levis has already thrown three interceptions and suffered two fumbles in just the first two games. His self-awareness suggests a desire to grow, yet the initial results have been far from encouraging. "I changed that mentality a bit in my play last year. Just realizing at the level that I was playing at where I had to be that much more careful with the ball. I was proud of how I was able to protect it a little more than I did in my college years," he reflected.
Despite his struggles, Levis showed a mature response to Callahan’s vehement criticisms. "He told us straight off, he's not a yeller and screamer, but he can be and there's certain situations that allow for that, and that definitely was one of those situations," Levis said. "I didn't bat an eye at it. I took the coaching." Exhibiting an understanding of the emotional nature of the game, Levis added, "I was yelling at myself in my head the same way he was yelling at me. I know it's an emotional response that we all have after things like that. We were right back to it, and he had confidence in me on the next play taking that shot. That was cool to feel, coming back on the field after that turnover, even though we had another one after that. I don't have any problem with how he handled himself."
Looking ahead, the Titans aim to regroup quickly as they gear up to host the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. Notably, the Packers will be without their starting quarterback, Jordan Love, as Malik Willis steps in due to Love's injury. This presents an opportunity for the Titans, who have their eyes set on a playoff run this season. "The goal for the 2024 Titans is to make a playoff run," stated Levis firmly.
The upcoming matchup against the Packers offers a critical chance for the Titans to turn their season around. The spotlight will once again be on Levis, whose responses to both external criticism and personal errors will be key to his development and, by extension, the Titans' success. His willingness to reflect and learn from past mistakes showcases a level of maturity necessary for growth in the high-stakes world of professional football.
As the Titans look to strike a balance between aggressiveness and careful play, the team’s capacity to support Levis during this formative period could be decisive. Whether they achieve their goal of making a playoff run will hinge significantly on Levis’ ability to channel his risk-taking tendencies into more strategic, game-winning decisions.
For now, Titans fans will hope that this adversity galvanizes their team, directing the lessons from recent losses toward future triumphs.