The Tennessee Titans host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 after getting a week off to heal up. After getting a win over the Miami Dolphins on the road on Monday Night Football, the Titans should be riding high and feeling better about themselves. It would be most beneficial if Brian Callahan would keep Will Levis on the bench to watch Mason Rudolph run the offense, but don’t hold your breath on that.
As we enter Week 6, here’s a look at where the Titans place in a multitude of power rankings.
For all the focus on their quarterback issue, they’ve committed a league-high nine turnovers (in just four games) – which, admittedly, gets back to their quarterback issue, one that may be in flux depending on Will Levis’ injured shoulder.
The Titans get to savor their win over the Dolphins. The bye week comes at a perfect time because it doesn’t feel like many more victories are in the future unless the defense wins games.
It seemed like Levis would make a big jump this season given new coach Brian Callahan’s previous success with quarterbacks and his offensive scheme. Adding free agent receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd also made a Levis breakout season more likely. Unfortunately, the promising outlook has taken a turn for the worse. Through four games, Levis has passed for only 604 yards and four touchdown passes and has averaged only 7.8 fantasy points. He leads the NFL in turnovers (nine) and is tied for the most interceptions (six). — Turron Davenport
Brian Blewis, Pro Football Network:
The Titans managed to avoid going into their bye week winless, but it was their backup quarterback Mason Rudolph who led them to their first victory of the season, not Will Levis.
Although the Titans are 1-3, they have outgained their opponents in three out of four games this season. Their issue has been they have a -7 turnover differential, which was the worst of any NFL team through four weeks.
Levis will need to improve coming out of the bye to save both his job and the Titans’ season.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:
The Titans got a hard-fought first win, with their running game and defense playing bigger roles in Miami. Now, they need to see a healthy Will Levis turn the corner after the bye.
Will Levis’ shoulder could be well enough that he could return in Week 6. After the Titans won with Mason Rudolph replacing him in Week 4, that might put even more pressure on Levis to cut out the egregious mistakes.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:
Will Levis saved Brian Callahan from having to bench him.
The Titans didn’t play in Week 4, yet they have still taken the fifth-most sacks in the league and are tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown. Quarterback Will Levis, who left Week 4’s game with a shoulder injury, has been a disaster in critical situations, but he has enough playmaking talent around him to be successful if he can accept operating strictly within the structure of the offense. If he can’t pull it together, Tennessee will have no choice but to get back in the market for quarterbacks next offseason.
It’s easy to forget how aggressive the Titans were in the offseason after their 1-3 start to this season, but even on the heels of losing campaigns in 2022 and 2023, their record has to be viewed as a major disappointment. That they coughed up a win in Chicago in Week 1 and had plenty of chances to beat the Jets in Week 2 makes it all the more frustrating. At the center of the matter is the play of Will Levis, who left the Week 4 win with a shoulder injury and watched Mason Rudolph lead the team to victory. So far, Brian Callahan is tamping down any QB controversy talk and sticking with Levis. Callahan has been unwavering, even if his sideline irritation is tough to ignore. After hosting the Colts in Week 6, the Titans face two tough road tests at Buffalo and Detroit. Does Levis need to play well against the Colts to keep his job? Everything feels up in the air at the bye.