The Titans were one of nine teams with positive play calling on both sides of the ball, yet they rank 31st in pass protection after Week 1.
The Tennessee Titans had so much hope and optimism around them during the offseason. Bringing in a new head coach and defensive coordinator and adding players through free agency and the draft created an aura of hope. The vibe coming out of the locker room suggested that the players are all on the same page, everyone has the same goals and is ready to give it their all.
At the start of their season opener, the optimism began to look real. And then came the second half implosion. Head coach Brian Callahan has to make meaningful adjustments during the game, and the offensive line has to protect Will Levis, which it did not do well on Sunday.
With the Titans’ pass protection ranking at the bottom of the league, it’s no wonder they didn’t put up any points in the second half of Sunday’s game.
But it’s not all bad news; the Titans were among nine teams with positive play calling on both sides of the ball.
The Titans’ play-callers actually ranked 4th on Sunday, which is a head-scratcher because the Titans’ offense had three turnovers and allowed three sacks. Now, the offensive play calling wasn’t as good as the defensive play calling, which is in line with how the team played, but the offense having anything positive has to be credited to first-half play.
These two tidbits of information tell very different stories about the same football game. The one thing Titans fans can take from all of this is not to give up hope yet. There are positive things happening, and they’ve only had one game.
The Titans have their work cut out for them this Sunday against the New York Jets. If they can correct the mistakes they made against the Chicago Bears and improve their pass protection, they may be on their way to a winning season.
The Tennessee Titans suffered a dissapointing 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday and pressure was one of the main causes.
In the aftermath of the Tennessee Titans’ disappointing 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, head coach Brian Callahan has a lot to clean up heading into Week 2.
Not only does he have to figure out a way to keep quarterback Will Levis from trying to make every play and force the ball, he needs to do something with the offensive line.
As Will Boling pointed out, Levis faced the second-most pressure in the NFL this past weekend, under siege on 48.7 percent of his throws. The offensive line allowing that level of pressure is not sustainable for the health of Levis or offensive production.
Heading into the game, the Titans believed the offensive line was starting to gel, but also knew there were some questions due to inexperience. The inexperience came out and the unit was overwhelmed by the Bears front. Especially in the second half, where the Titans could get nothing going on offense.
Things will not get any easier in Week 2, when the Titans make their home opener against the New York Jets, who are coming off a 32-19 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The Jets boast a physical defense, who will be out to prove that the 49ers game was a fluke.
The Titans will open their home schedule on Sunday, Sept. 15, at Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans lost a tough one against the Chicago Bears and head coach Brian Callahan had some interesting thoughts on the outcome.
The Tennessee Titans lost 24-17 to the Chicago Bears in a game they probably should have won on Sunday.
The Titans defense was dominant and controlled the game. If not for an interception return touchdown and a blocked punt touchdown, the Bears would have never been able to come back.
“If we’d just punted it on 1st & 10 every time, we might’ve won the game the way that we gave it away,” head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday, and he was correct.
"If we'd just punted it on 1st & 10 every time we might’ve won the game the way that we gave it away."
The Titans wasted a tremendous defensive effort. Not only did they stifle the Bears’ rushing attack, but they also kept pressure on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and held their dynamic veteran receiving corps in check.
The defense held the Bears’ offense to 148 yards, and even those were difficult to come by.
Moving forward, the new-look defense looks like it will be a tough matchup every week, especially as the unit continues to mesh.
Brian Callahan wasted no time blasting Will Levis in the worst way possible.
All the Tennessee Titans had to do was control the ball and not make any mistakes. If that had happened, they probably would’ve left Chicago with a Week 1 win, officially starting the Brian Callahan era off on the right foot.
In the fourth quarter, the signal-caller threw a careless game-losing pick-six to the Chicago Bears’ Tyrique Stevenson, where his mid-play surrender cobra was very fitting.
That’s not necessarily just a shot at Levis, as the rest of the Tennessee offense struggled in the second half. The Bears blanked the Titans to close the game. Even still, Levis is the person most in control of the offense and, effectively, the outcome when his team has a huge lead.
I don’t know how correct Callahan’s assessment is. The Titans had Caleb Williams hemmed in so well that they really might have won with extremely harmless punts for an entire half. But that’s not the point. If this is tough-love coaching, no one’s going to remember any of the positives of Levis’s game.
Instead, they’ll note that Callahan didn’t wear his kid gloves while essentially blaming his quarterback for the game’s outcome. Not a great start in Nashville, to say the least.
The Tennessee Titans will have their hands full against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, but there are reasons for optimism in this match-up.
The Tennessee Titans open their 2024 NFL season on Sunday when they travel to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears. The Titans look to start the Brian Callahan era off with a bang and have a retooled roster that can get it done.
In many ways, both teams are starting at square one: the Titans with a rookie head coach and the Bears with their prized rookie quarterback.
With so many changes made by both teams, it should be an interesting game, and the Titans have three reasons to be optimistic that they can bring this one home.
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The return of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins
Though it’s not a given that he will play on Sunday, it is trending that way. Hopkins has been a limited participant in practice this week after sitting out most of the preseason with a knee injury. If he is able to go, his presence will be a huge boost for the offense, which really hasn’t had a chance to be at full capacity.
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The new cornerback tandem
The wide receiving corps and the secondary really haven’t had a chance to work together and gel, but the additions of free agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and the trade for L’Jarius Sneed give the Titans one of the best tandems in the league when healthy. Heading into Week 1, both are on track to start, and it should be a tough matchup for a rookie quarterback.
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams will make his first NFL start on Sunday after being taken number one overall in the 2024 NFL draft. While he did show flashes during the preseason, that does not compare to the defensive game plans he will experience in the regular season. With defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s attacking style, Williams should be prime for a welcome-to-the-NFL moment.
The Titans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their chances in Sunday’s game. A new coach, a new roster, and a new outlook are a few, but we won’t know for sure until they take the field.
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan grew up a Chicago Bears fan and now gets to make his debut against his childhood team.
For Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Sunday is going to be a special day. Not only because it is his debut as an NFL head coach, but because he gets to face the team he grew up rooting for: the Chicago Bears.
“It’s a great place, and it’s a great sports town too on top of it,” Callahan said Wednesday. “So cool moment to be able to go open up my head coaching career in Chicago. Fitting.”
With parents from the Chicago area and a sister still inside the city, this opening game couldn’t have been scripted any better. It’s truly a homecoming Callahan will never forget.
Known for his high-powered offenses in Cincinnati, Callahan was hired to awaken a stagnant Titans offense and develop second-year quarterback Will Levis. How they stand at this point is a giant question mark after limited snaps in the preseason.
Callahan and the rest of the Titans will find out for themselves Sunday in the ‘friendly’ confines of Soldier Field. At least friendly to Callahan, although this time they will not be so friendly.
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Several quarterbacks have a lot to prove in 2024. Where is Will Levis on that list?
Will Levis has a lot to prove in 2024. The second-year Tennessee Titans quarterback started nine games as a rookie last season, winning three of those starts after replacing longtime starter Ryan Tannehill.
Levis showed enough to impress ownership and general manager Ran Carthon. Shockingly, Carthon fired head coach Mike Vrabel and hired former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace him. Callahan’s job was clear: Get the most out of the talented Levis.
Tennessee surrounded Levis with several weapons, including veteran wideouts Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
Levis understands it’s on him to make a jump in 2024. With a quarterback guru like Callahan and an improved offensive line, Levis has every opportunity to shine this season.
When the Tennessee Titans used a second-round pick on Levis in 2023, only some believed the club was committed to him as Ryan Tannehill’s successor. General manager Ran Carthon was pedal to the metal in upgrading Levis’ supporting cast this offseason, though, signaling Tennessee is prepared to give the bulldozing youngster a true audition for the long-term job. In a way, Levis not being a first-round investment could make the Titans more likely to pursue a replacement in the event he doesn’t take a major leap forward, which means the bold Kentucky product has even more motivation to ball out in 2024.
Levis isn’t a former first-round pick; the Titans selected him 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL draft. So, this could be a make-or-break year for Levis if he doesn’t show significant progress, allowing Carthon and Callahan to look for another quarterback in 2025.
Levis had an impressive offseason in Callahan’s offense and looks to continue that momentum into Week 1 when the Titans travel to Chicago to face the Bears.
Watch Tennessee Titans general manager break the news to five players that they embarking on a new challenge. Making the 53-man roster.
It has been no secret that the Tennessee Titans have had a changing of the guard over the past two years. First, the team hired Ran Carthon as general manager in 2023 to replace Jon Robinson. This was followed by a shocking move, firing head coach Mike Vrabel and transitioning to Brian Callahan.
Carthon and Callahan have overhauled the roster almost totally in a very short period of time. They have also become more transparent with some of their behind-the-scenes moments. This includes the moment that five underdogs discovered their fate on cut day.
"You don't have to thank us, you earned it" 🥹
BTS of the moments Andrew Rupcich, David Martin-Robinson, Thomas Odukoya, John Ojukwu and James Williams found out they made the Titans 53-man roster pic.twitter.com/EwPwYVGklK
None of Andrew Rupcich, David Martin-Robinson, Thomas Odukoya, John Ojukwu, and James Williams knew what was about to transpire when they were summoned to the front office, and their emotions were all over the map. The sincerity of this life-altering moment for these players is apparent, and now they have a video to remind them of their journey.
We look at seven players the Titans should pursue.
Tuesday marked the deadline for each NFL team to cut their roster down to 53 players.
That means every team had difficult decisions to make, including the Tennessee Titans. The Titans’ final roster includes surprises and omits a few players that many fans and analysts have predicted to be on it.
For example, the team’s initial 53-man roster includes five tight ends, a whopping seven inside linebackers, and just four corners and three running backs.
Of course, this roster will change again before the regular season kicks off. With every team cutting 30+ players, the Titans will see if any of those players fit on their roster.
Now, let’s identify seven players who were released or waived who could fit on this Titans’ roster.
Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
D’Onta Foreman, RB
D”Onta Foreman was released by the Cleveland Browns, and the veteran should interest the Titans. Foreman impressed as a member of the Titans in 2021, taking 133 carries for 566 yards.
Since that time, Foreman has spent a season with the Carolina Panthers and a season with the Chicago Bears. The veteran had hoped to latch on with the Browns but was unable to secure a spot on the final roster.
The Titans only kept three RBs on the roster after Hassan Haskins and Jabari Small failed to impress. With Julius Chestnut as the lone backup option, the team should consider bringing in Foreman to bolster the depth.
Carl Lawson #58 of the New York Jets. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Carl Lawson, EDGE
Carl Lawson could not crack the Dallas Cowboys’ roster, and the veteran will once again hit the open market. Lawson once signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Jets, but injuries have prevented the defender from being consistent.
In 2023, Lawson was limited to six games and accumulated just five tackles. However, he had a productive pass-rushing season as recently as 2022, when he racked up seven sacks.
The Titans only kept four edge rushers on the final roster, so Lawson would provide a solid depth addition. Shane Ray was not one of the edge rushers kept around, so a veteran presence would be nice.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (10). Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
CJ Henderson, CB
The Titans gave up on one former first-round cornerback, so why not take a gamble on another? The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted CJ Henderson in the top ten of the 2020 NFL draft, and his career has not gone according to plan thus far.
Henderson was traded to the Carolina Panthers after just one season in Jacksonville, and the corner’s play never lived up to his draft pedigree. However, the Titans only kept four corners, and a young corner like Henderson may fit in perfectly behind L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie.
Cincinnati Bengals guard Jackson Carman (79). Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jackson Carman, OL
Jackson Carman is another highly-drafted player who has disappointed to this point in the NFL. Carman was a second-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft but has only started in six games.
The Bengals cut bait on Carman, but the Titans could be interested. On the initial roster, the team kept John Ojukwu and Jaelyn Duncan as backup tackles, which shouldn’t inspire much confidence.
Perhaps Brian Callahan saw enough during his time with Carman to take a chance.
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Travis Bell (73). Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Travis Bell, DT
Travis Bell is another former Bengal who should interest the Titans. The defensive lineman was a seventh-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears last year but has already played on three different rosters.
However, Bell is still an intriguing prospect. The 6’0″, 310-pound DT was the first player to be drafted out of Kennesaw State and flashed preseason ability as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher.
The Titans do not have much depth on the defensive line. Keondre Coburn is the only reserve on the roster right now, so high-upside additions would be smart.
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Royce Newman (70). Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Royce Newman, G
As mentioned above, the Titans’ backup offensive linemen don’t inspire much confidence. The team kept Daniel Brunskill and Andrew Rupcich to back up on the interior after Saahdiq Charles’s retirement threw a wrench in the team’s plans.
Currently, Dillon Radunz is slated to start at right guard, with Brunskill and Rupcich as backup options. Adding Royce Newman would give the team a capable option who could fill in at a moment’s notice.
Newman has delivered acceptable results in 24 career starts. The lineman would greatly improve the Titans’ depth.
Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans (21). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Evans, RB
Zach Evans was a surprise cut by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 sixth-round pick impressed in the preseason, scoring two TDs in the finale.
Evans will now hit the waiver wire after just one season in LA. As mentioned previously, the Titans could use reinforcements at RB. Even though Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will get the bulk of the carries, having just one depth option probably isn’t wise.
Evans would be a high-upside claim by the Titans, providing insurance in case Pollard or Spears get injured.
