QB Will Levis may stay benched with the Titans desperate to win down the stretch

NASHVILLE, Ten. (AP) — Brian Callahan goes to take a few days to determine if the Tennessee Titans must preserve their beginning quarterback on the bench.

Callahan sat Will Levis after his fourth turnover, a pick-6, in a 37-27 loss to Cincinnati. If Callahan and the Titans preserve Levis on the bench and begin veteran backup Mason Rudolph on Sunday at Indianapolis, Callahan stated it’s not a closing choice on the second-year quarterback’s future with the staff.

The important thing? Ensure that the Titans are doing the best factor now with three video games remaining of their season.

“On the finish of the day, it’s you’ve bought to win,” Callahan stated.

The Titans (3-11) need to win out simply to match final season’s win whole, which didn’t preserve coach Mike Vrabel on the job.

With the 17-game schedule, they simply might high the 13 losses of 2015, which helped value Ken Whisenhunt his job in November that season. The 14 video games misplaced in Whisenhunt’s debut season of 2014 are probably the most in a single season since this franchise moved to Tennessee in 1997.

With assist from the Bengals, they had been a part of the primary sport because the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to mix for 10 or extra turnovers and 25 or extra penalties. Callahan stated no one is extra pissed off than he’s figuring out what he anticipated from this staff solely to see the Titans preserve hurting themselves.

“I’ve loads of confidence that that’s the best means of doing issues and that we’re going to be headed in the best route,” Callahan stated.

What’s working

The protection. Sure, the NFL’s top-ranked passing protection dropped to 3rd after dealing with the league’s greatest passing offense.

The Titans nonetheless compelled three turnovers by Joe Burrow, together with an interception to finish Cincinnati’s opening drive and establishing Tennessee to take a 14-7 lead. Additionally they bought the ball again within the fourth quarter and gave Rudolph an opportunity to attempt to rally them from a 17-point deficit.

What wants assist

The offense. Sure, the Titans opened a sport scoring touchdowns on back-to-back drives for the primary time since Week 4 of the 2022 season. However they turned it over a season-high six instances. Fortunately, Tony Pollard’s fumble changed into a touchback when Cincinnati security Jordan Battle dropped the ball simply outdoors the purpose line.

That left the Titans giving up simply 24 factors and never a potential 31.

Top off

DT T’Vondre Sweat. One of many highlights wasn’t the 6-foot-4, 366-pound rookie recovering Burrow’s fumble compelled by linebacker Harold Landry III on a sack out of the air. It’s what Sweat did as soon as he caught the ball, turning upfield and stiff-arming an offensive lineman as he rumbled for 30 yards.

That was the longest fumble return by any NFL participant weighing not less than 350 kilos since not less than 1991.

Inventory down

Levis. Not solely does he lead the NFL with 4 pick-6s, which is probably the most by a quarterback for this franchise in a season because the then-Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997, solely three quarterbacks within the league have greater than his 12 interceptions.

He missed three video games and far of a fourth with a sprained AC joint in his proper, throwing shoulder. He’s additionally misplaced 5 of eight fumbles, a giant motive why the Titans rank final within the NFL with 29 turnovers.

Accidents

LB Luke Gifford is within the concussion protocol. He bought the primary interception that arrange the Titans’ first landing. Callahan stated he’s hopeful of getting a few gamers again.

Key quantity

7 — The variety of losses by 10 or extra factors by means of 14 video games this season. The Titans misplaced eight by 10 or extra over the 34 video games mixed in 2022 and 2023 beneath then-coach Mike Vrabel.

Subsequent steps

Followers are busy rooting for different groups to lose to enhance Tennessee’s possibilities at shifting into the highest 5 of subsequent April’s draft. The Titans final drafted increased than seventh in 2017 after they used the fifth general decide on a large receiver who didn’t get a second contract with the staff.

On the sector, the Titans nonetheless have an opportunity to maneuver up from the underside of the AFC South for 2025 scheduling beginning Sunday with a go to to Indianapolis (6-8) beginning a two-game street swing.

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