Category: Titans Wire Features

Gimmie Him: One player the Titans would steal from the Bills

The Titans head to upstate New York to face the Bills on Sunday and there’s one player the Titans would love to steal from the Bills.

[lawrence-related id=152090,152098,152083]The Tennessee Titans 2024 season is not going as they hoped. Newly hired head coach Brian Callahan’s offense is hamstrung by a quarterback who simply doesn’t get it. This has led to a 1-4 start to the season, dropping their first divisional matchup to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

The Titans’ next matchup is against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. Given how things have gone this season, the one player the Titans would steal from the Bills is starting quarterback Josh Allen.

Allen is not only a veteran in his seventh season but also consistently among the top-ranked quarterbacks in the league. This season, he’s thrown 98 passes for 1,160 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He’s also rushed 35 times for 178 yards and three additional touchdowns. And he’s only been sacked eight times.

Those stats are a far cry from what Will Levis has produced this season. Perhaps with Allen under center, the Titans would get a real look at the offense Callahan wants to run and see how effective it can be.

As it stands, the Titans will face Allen rather than have him on their side, and stopping the surging Bills will be no easy feat especially if the turnovers continue.

It’s clear: Will Levis is not the answer at quarterback for the Titans

It’s clear: Will Levis is not the guy for the Titans.

It’s clear, Titans fans: Will Levis is not the answer at the quarterback position in Nashville.

Sure, Levis has technically only had four complete games this season, but what we’ve seen so far will be hard, if not impossible, to return from.

The Titans are sitting at 1-4, and Levis is at or near the bottom of the league in almost every passing category. Last year, it was easy to give Levis the benefit of the doubt. The Titans had a terrible offensive line and an uninspiring group of pass-catchers.

That’s exactly why the Titans spent more money in free agency than any other team this offseason. Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Tony Pollard, and Lloyd Cushenberry were brought in to alleviate some of these issues. How has Levis responded to the improved talent? The QB has played even worse.

Is Will Levis holding the Titans back?

Much of the discourse around Levis in 2023 was that the poor roster was holding him back. Could it be the exact opposite in 2024?

Looking at the Titans’ offense, this is not a roster that should have one of the league’s most anemic offenses. The Titans are 21st in points per game, 31st in passing yards per game, and 22nd in passing touchdowns per game.

Levis averages just 5.6 yards per attempt, putting him behind QBs like Skylar Thompson, Spencer Rattler, Daniel Jones, Andy Dalton, and Drake Maye. The QB is 30th in passing yards with just 699 through four complete games.

Putting up numbers like this with the weapons at Levis’ disposal is inexcusable. DeAndre Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer, who is barely making an impact. In the past, Calvin Ridley has been a 1,000-yard WR who didn’t record a single catch in Week 6.

Finally, Levis’s major problem has been turnovers. Levis leads the league with seven interceptions, even as the quarterback has played two fewer complete games than some passers.

Every game, there’s a head-scratching turnover by the QB. This hasn’t gotten better as the season goes on. It cannot be blamed on the offensive line either, considering Levis wasn’t sacked a single time on Sunday.

Barring the turnaround of a lifetime, it’s clear that Levis is not the answer at QB. The choice now is does the team keep trotting Levis out and hope to land a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft? Or does the team turn to Mason Rudolph and try to salvage a season with a ton of money invested?

 

Titans vs. Colts Player of the Game: Tony Pollard

The Tennessee Titans fell to the Indianapolis Colts, 20-17, in Week 6 and running back Tony Pollard is our Player of the Game.

The Tennessee Titans returned from their early bye week to host the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t supposed to be a huge test for the Titans, the Colts are pretty banged up and it seemed like the Titans were poised to get their second win of the season.

That didn’t happen, however, as the Titans lost 20-17, bringing their record to 1-4, and falling to third in the AFC East.

Still, it wasn’t all bad. Despite Will Levis throwing yet another interception, he looked better this week. Brian Callahan kept it conservative, relying heavily on running back Tony Pollard, who is this week’s Player of the Game.

Pollard rushed 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Multiple times throughout the game, Pollard was responsible for moving the ball down the field to put the Titans in scoring position.

His touchdown run came on a crucial play midway through the third quarter. It was third-and-19 and Levis handed the ball off to Pollard. From the couch, it seemed a terrible play call, until Pollard ran through the slalom of players and into the end zone with seeming ease.

That play gave the Titans the lead until midway through the fourth quarter when the Colts went up 20-17 and that’s where the score stayed.

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Titans vs. Colts: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 6

The Tennessee Titans take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday in Week 6 and here are three reasons for optimism.

The Tennessee Titans are preparing to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Titans (1-3) are coming off their bye after notching their first victory to close out Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins.

The Colts (2-3) struggled against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 and are injured at many skill positions.

There is a lot on the line for both teams and this should be an interesting and important AFC South battle. Here are three reasons for optimism heading into this match-up.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Overall health

The Titans are rested and getting healthier every day. Coming off the bye, the Titans have almost their entire roster ready to go. Quarterback Will Levis is trending upwards with his shoulder injury and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons appears ready to go after missing their Week 4 victory with an elbow issue. The Colts are battered and have injury questions at multiple skill positions. This should give the Titans an advantage on game day.

Justin Ford/Getty Images

Calvin Ridley

After self-scouting during the bye, multiple coaches on the staff mentioned the importance of getting Calvin Ridley more involved on offense. He has been silent over the past two games and the team needs his dynamic receiving ability to help open the running game. Ridley should have a favorable match-up this week, with fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins starting to settle back into the top of the room after missing most of training camp with a knee issue. If the Titans can get Ridley involved, which sounds like the focus, the offense can get going and be hard to stop.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Defense keeps rolling

The Titans’ defense has been tremendous in 2024 and are poised to continue building upon their impressive start. With the Colts limping on offense and possibly down multiple starters at all levels, the unit should be ready to impose its will. Quarterback Joe Flacco will make it difficult on them, but the possible loss of running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Josh Downs, and leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will make it harder to get the offense going. The Titans’ defense is strong enough to give any team fits, especially one missing top playmakers. This game should give them a solid advantage.

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Titans vs. Colts: 3 causes for concern in Week 6

The Titans host the Colts on Sunday after an early Week 5 bye. There are three causes for concern as the Titans return to the field in Week 6.

The Tennessee Titans return to the field in Week 6 after an early bye. After defeating the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, the Titans host the Indianapolis Colts in a bid to get their second win of the season.

The bye week came at a good time for the Titans, as starting quarterback Will Levis left the Dolphins’ game with a shoulder injury and needed time to heal. Still, we don’t yet know if he will play this week.

That’s not the only concern the Titans have heading into their matchup with the Colts, let’s take a look at three causes for concern.

Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Quarterback unknowns on both sides

The Titans have not yet said who will start this week against the Colts. Will Levis returned to practice in full this week, but his status remains questionable.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is dealing with an oblique injury and is also questionable to play. He left the Pittsburgh Steelers game two weeks ago and did not play in Week 5.

It’s difficult to prepare for a game with so many quarterback questions. Whoever lines up under center changes the offensive scheme and defensive tactics, so both sides of the ball are preparing for two different quarterbacks. It’s not impossible to do, but it does make things more difficult.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Defensive injuries piling up

While the Titans designated linebacker Cedric Gray to return from injured reserve, the injuries on the defensive side of the ball are piling up. Jeffery Simmons has been dealing with an elbow injury for a few weeks. Chidobe Awuzie was placed on injured reserve just ahead of the Dolphins game. Jamal Adams has a hip injury and did not practice on Wednesday, and Keondre Coburn has a nagging knee injury.

The Titans already had defensive players on injured reserve, and Gray’s designation to return does not mean he will play this week. The defense has held strong so far, but they can’t afford any more injuries.

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Special teams blocking

On Thursday, special teams coach Colt Anderson said the Titans had to do better when blocking on punts.

The Dolphins nearly blocked a punt in Week 4, and only rushed four guys to do it. They’ve already allowed two blocked punts this season.[lawrence-related id=151799,151778,151773] That won’t suffice against most teams, the Titans have to do better in protecting Ryan Stonehouse and the football.

Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Colts

The Tennessee Titans need some help at offensive tackle, making this an easy target to grab off the Indianapolis Colts’ roster.

The Tennessee Titans will be back on the field attempting to maintain their momentum when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Colts’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades.

Much like the Titans, the Colts have a young and inexperienced quarterback in Anthony Richardson and are building the roster around his talents. Like Titans quarterback Will Levis, he suffered an injury in Week 4 and may not play.

In many ways, these teams are similar. The Colts have a talented roster and there are some intriguing players to choose from. Back-up quarterback Joe Flacco appears to have again beaten Father Time and running back Jonathan Taylor is as dynamic as they come. However, Taylor is battling an injury and the Titans quarterback situation is better than some perceive.

The real problem is the right side of the offensive line, specifically right tackle where head coach Brian Callahan tabbed a week-to-week competition on who plays. If we had our way, we would solve that issue with young offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann.

A third-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft from Central Michigan, Raimann transitioned from tight end to tackle in college and is still developing. He plays left tackle for the Colts but has shown enough athleticism to slide over to the right side.

At 6-foot-6, 307 pounds, he is an explosive run blocker and, most importantly, an outstanding pass blocker and consistently grades near the top of the Colts’ PFF rankings.

Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was better against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 but has been a liability on the offense. With the team still attempting to discover what they have in Levis, they must protect him and Raimann would definitely do that. Not only would he be a tremendous upgrade over Petit-Frere, but he would also be an outstanding bookend to JC Latham on the offensive line.

What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Bernhard Raimann or steal an entirely different player from the Indianapolis Colts?

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NFL Power Rankings 2024: How do the Titans fare entering Week 6?

A round-up of where the Tennessee Titans sit in power rankings from across the NFL as we enter Week 6 of the 2024 regular season.

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.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY:

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.

Barry Werner, List Wire:

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.

NFL Nation, ESPN:

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.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports:

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.

Diante Lee, The Ringer:

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.

Eric Edholm, NFL.com:

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.

Titans vs. Dolphins: Best photos from Week 4

The best photos from a Week 4 game between the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins — a game Tennessee won, 31-12.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from a Week 4 game between the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins — a game the Titans won, 31-12.

Titans vs. Dolphins Player of the Game: DT T’Vondre Sweat

The Titans defeated the Dolphins 31-12 in Miami on Monday Night Football, and there’s one player who earned Player of the Game honors.

The Tennessee Titans went to Florida and earned their first win of the 2024 season by defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-12.

In a game in which starting quarterback Will Levis went down with an injury, so many players stepped up that it was difficult to single out one player. However, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat has earned this week’s Player of the Game honors.

Sweat recorded six tackles (three solo) and two for a loss. This is his most productive game thus far, and his energy is so infectious that everyone around him plays that much better.

Sebastian Joseph-Day recorded six tackles (three solo), one sack, one tackle for a loss and two quarterback hits.

Kenneth Murray Jr. had nine tackles (six solo) and one tackle for a loss.

But Sweat’s energy kept the defense going, allowing Joseph-Day and Murray Jr. to break through and make tackles. He is fast cementing himself as the foundation for this defense’s future. His play on the field, his energy, and his larger-than-life personality are all things we will see a lot of going forward.