Tag: mason rudolph

Titans vs. Colts: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 16

The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts will get together for an AFC South battle on Sunday and here are three reasons for optimism.

The Tennessee Titans are heading to Lucas Oil Stadium for an AFC South tilt with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The Titans (3-11) are coming off another disappointing loss against the Cincinnati Bengals and would like nothing more than to dampen the Colts’ slim playoff hopes.

The Colts (6-8) struggled against the Denver Broncos and are barely holding on to hope.

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

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Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley had one of his worst games of 2024 in the first match-up between these teams and will be highly motivated to make amends in this contest.

A lot has changed since that Week 6 battle, and Ridley has become more consistent. With Mason Rudolph now at the helm, the Titans should be able to use his dynamic receiving ability to help open up the running game. Plus, with both Tyler Boyd and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine banged up, he has had time this week to build some chemistry with Rudolph.

If the Titans are to win on Sunday, they need a receiver to step up and Ridley should be that guy.

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The change to Mason Rudolph

Will Levis imploded during Week 15 and destroyed any chance to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals with his poor decision-making and turnovers. After the game, head coach Brian Callahan decided to go with Mason Rudolph and it was the right call.

Rudolph may not have the physical attributes of Levis, but he understands the offense, can read defenses, and make the right decisions. He looked good against the Bengals and now having a full week of first-team reps, the offense could continue that trend this week. When you couple that with a stout Titans defense taking on a Colts offense with an erratic quarterback, good things could happen.

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It’s a divisional matchup

Games within a division are different and are almost always closer than they should be when looking solely at the statistics or the standings. This AFC South battle should be no different. The talent differential between these two teams is not as wide as their records may indicate, and the Titans are growing every week. This could be the week they get back on track. There is belief in the locker room and that could be the recipe for a win on Sunday.

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Titans vs. Colts: 5 things to know for Week 16

The Tennessee Titans face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. Here are the five biggest storylines to follow for this contest.

The Tennessee Titans are gearing up for an AFC South showdown with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. This will be the final meeting between the teams until 2025.

In the first meeting, the Titans fell, 20-17, in Nashville. It was a game the Titans could have won, but the team got outscored 10-0 in the 4th quarter.

Per BetMGM, the Colts are 3.5-point favorites over the Titans with an over/under of 42.5. Now, let’s identify the five things to know for this game.

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Titans last win vs. Colts was over 2 years ago

Matt Ryan was the quarterback of the Colts the last time they lost to the Titans. The Colts swept the Titans in 2023 and won the first matchup in 2024, meaning it’s been over two calendar years since the Titans beat their rivals.

The Titans would love to stop the streak this weekend. The Colts technically are alive in the playoff race, and a loss to the Titans would end any of that talk.

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Both teams have disappointed in 2024

If the season ended today, neither of these teams would sniff the playoffs. The Titans have been officially eliminated for a couple of weeks, while the Colts have a slim-but-not-zero chance still.

Coming into the season, the Colts were seen as a team that could compete for a wild card spot or perhaps even the division. Anthony Richardson was supposed to step up and prove he belongs as a starting quarterback.

Instead, Richardson was benched for a stretch. Granted, the quarterback regained his starting job, but he hasn’t been great since then either. The Titans? Well, we know what happened there.

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Richardson has only played the Titans once

Anthony Richardson was injured during the second Titans-Colts meeting in 2023. The quarterback was banged up/benched for the first meeting this year as well.

The Titans have an entirely new coaching staff this year as well, so Richardson has never faced a Brian Callahan-led Titans team. Granted, the Callahan-led Titans team is 3-11, but still.

Perhaps the Titans will take advantage of Richardson’s inexperience this weekend.

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Mason Rudolph is the new starter

Mason Rudolph is the starting quarterback for the Titans now. It should have happened sooner, but better late than never.

Rudolph didn’t get to start against the Colts in the first game. Will Levis started and managed to throw for just 95 yards and the Titans still almost won. I can almost guarantee Rudolph will throw for 100-plus yards this weekend.

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Brian Callahan doesn’t think his team is soft

Brian Callahan went on an NSFW rant on Wednesday. The coach got agitated when a reporter asked if the Titans were a “soft” team.

Callahan couldn’t believe that anyone would dare question his team’s makeup. Do soft teams get blown out weekly, make mental errors, and look unenthused? Oh, wait…

It will be interesting to see if Callahan’s fiery presser inspires this team for a rivalry game.

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Brian Callahan went on an enraged rant about the Titans’ supposed lack of toughness

The Titans aren’t soft. They just suck.

I need to make one thing clear for you, dearest readers.

The next time you wonder whether your awful favorite NFL team is playing terribly because the players are soft … don’t. NFL players, by and large, are grown men with so much more strength and athleticism than the average human. They put themselves through unfathomable physical punishment on a weekly basis. It is the kind of punishment that would likely put most of us regular people with “normal” day jobs in the hospital at the slightest exposure.

They are not soft, at least in the colloquial usage of the word. Far from it.

In the midst of a tough 3-11 season, a Tennessee Titans reporter learned this the hard way on Wednesday when they asked head Brian Callahan if he thought his team was soft.

Callahan reacted appropriately to the mere suggestion his Titans players weren’t tough enough with a fiery, extended rant.

(Warning: NSFW language in the video below.)

Good for Callahan. I’m sure Titans players genuinely loved seeing this defensive passion from him.

On that note, let’s make another thing clear.

The two main quarterbacks to play for the Titans this year — Will Levis and Mason Rudolph — have a combined 20 turnovers between them. They’re two of the least efficient passers in pro football. Unsurprisingly, Tennessee is just 30th in expected points added (EPA) per play, according to RBDSM.com. The middling defense doesn’t get much better with a unit ranked 19th in EPA per play. The Titans don’t get stops. At all.

These Titans aren’t soft. They just suck. They’re simply not a good football team. Let’s all remember that saying the former is a big leap to make about anyone’s character. Please?

Former Steelers QB set to take over starting duties for Titans

Former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph is the Tennessee Titans’ starter for Week 16, showcasing his ability to step in at a moment’s need.

It appears the Atlanta Falcons aren’t the only NFL team looking for a change at quarterback in Week 16, as it is being reported that the Tennessee Titans will bench QB Will Levis in favor of former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph.

Rudolph’s five years with the Black and Gold highlighted his growth as a signal caller, from ultimately sitting out his rookie year in 2018, to relieving Ben Roethlisberger following his season-ending elbow injury in 2019, and his return to form by beating out Kenny Pickett for starting QB duties to finish out the 2023 season.  Rudolph would price himself out of Pittsburgh, but signing with the Titans was the correct decision to make, as he is currently slated to earn starting duties for the Titans Week 16 game vs the Indianapolis Colts.

Rudolph has averaged 209 passing yards per game for the Titans in 2024, and has thrown 5 TDS, as well as 5 INTs, through his three starts for Tennessee.

Rudolph’s starting opportunity surprises very few fans of the Black and Gold, as he has proven time and time again to step up to the challenge when his name is called upon.

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Report: Titans benching Will Levis, Mason Rudolph to start

According to media reports, the Tennessee Titans will be moving off Will Levis and start Mason Rudolph in Week 16.

After pulling quarterback Will Levis in their Week 15 loss, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan was non-committal on who would be his starting quarterback for Week 16 during his weekly press availability.  

Callahan stated that he wanted to show locker room accountability and would take the next two days to make a decision. Apparently, a decision has been made and the team will be benching Will Levis this week. 

Multiple outlets are reporting that the Titans are moving on from Levis and will start Mason Rudolph on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. 

Levis struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals and looked nothing like the player that has been playing over the past few games. He went 8-for-12 for 89 yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions, was sacked once, and lost a fumble.  At one point, he had three interceptions in five passes. It was the latest implosion from the young quarterback, who has battled costly turnovers and poor decision-making throughout the season. 

This change definitely creates an air of uncertainty around Levis and his future with the Titans.  Unfortunately, for fans, turning the page on Rudolph does not appear to be a move for the future. Rudolph is a solid veteran, but has never shown the ability to be a franchise quarterback. Now it looks like he will be given another shot to impress and seize the opportunity. 

He will have his chance on Sunday when the Titans travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to face the Colts in AFC South action. 

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Titans’ Brian Callahan not naming starting quarterback for Week 16

The Tennessee Titans have a quarterback controversy and head coach Brian Callahan does not know who will start in Week 16.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is coming off a horrendous game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and now questions surround his status for the rest of 2024. During his press conference, head coach Brian Callahan said that he is going to use the next few days to decide who his starting QB will be. 

Levis was extremely bad against the Bengals and looked nothing like the player that has been playing over the past few games. Callahan benched Levis in the third quarter after he threw his third interception of the game. In total, he went 8-for-12 for 89 yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions, was sacked once, and lost a fumble.  At one point, he had three interceptions in five passes. 

Mason Rudolph came in and added veteran leadership and poise, but he didn’t set the world on fire either. He went 20-for-25 for 196 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception, and his touchdown pass was on the game’s last play. It was not a dynamic performance, but it was better than Levis. 

Levis had shown positive signs before imploding against the Bengals, but it is becoming clear that he isn’t the answer at the quarterback position. Rudolph is a solid backup but hasn’t been able to seize the opportunity when presented. 

Now Callahan will face one of the biggest decisions of his brief stint as head coach: who will start on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. This not only impacts the 2024 season, but it may also shape their fortunes moving forward. 

Who would you select to start against the Colts in Week 16? Chime in and let us know your thoughts. 

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Eagles QB Kenny Pickett will witness firsthand why Steelers ousted him

The Pittsburgh Steelers face their former QB Kenny Pickett in Week 15 as Russell Wilson continues to prove he’s the upgrade they needed.

Sorry, Kenny Pickett: Russell Wilson has been everything you weren’t for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And now, Pickett has a front-row seat to see exactly why the Steel City opted to bring in some much-needed quarterback expertise during the 2024 offseason.

The ‘Kenny Football’ experience in Pittsburgh came to an abrupt end when the former Steelers QB requested a trade, declining to compete for the starting job with Wilson heading into 2024.

For fans of the Black and Gold, his 13 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, six fumbles, and a well below-average 6.3 yards per attempt over two years in Pittsburgh made it easy to support a QB change.

Regardless of the outcome of Week 15’s contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, Wilson remains a clear upgrade over Pickett. Backup Titans quarterback and former Steeler Mason Rudolph set the blueprint for Pickett’s turbulent exit, leaving his only notable Steelers accomplishment as beating the inconsistent Mitchell Trubisky for the starting quarterback job.

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Nick Holz: Titans are ‘ramping up’ Will Levis this week

Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz says they are ramping up Will Levis in the hopes that he feels well enough to play on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback situation has been a major struggle in 2024. Will Levis, the starting quarterback, is in just his second year in the league. He took over for Ryan Tannehill last season, but he hasn’t adapted well under the new coaching staff. Whether that’s a coaching thing or a player thing doesn’t really matter, it’s a problem.

On top of that, Levis injured his shoulder in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins. That’s when Mason Rudolph took over and led the Titans to their first victory of the season. Then it was the bye week, then Levis returned only to tank against the Indianapolis Colts. It was revealed after the game that maybe he wasn’t 100%, and Brian Callahan decided to start Rudolph the last two weeks while Levis healed.

Today, Nick Holz addressed the media ahead of practice and discussed Levis’ potential return against the Los Angeles Chargers this week.

 

Asked about ramping up Levis, Holz replied, “Yep, ramped up yesterday, we were kind of in a slowed-down mode yesterday, but he ramped up yesterday and the plan is to ramp him up again today, and then kind of make our decision really tonight after practice of where he’s going to go.”

Holz went on to say that Levis’ reps will probably be 60/40 as they ramp him up, and they’ll see how he feels at full speed today.

Yes, it’s about how he feels, but that leaves the question: How do you reintegrate Levis back into the starting lineup with the progress that has been made?

“You know, I don’t think it’s all on Will, why the passing game has improved, or all on the quarterback position. I think our pass protection has been a lot better, the receivers’ drops are down, all our assignments, I feel like we’ve done all of those things well. So we kind of expect him to jump in with that progress where we’ve made the last couple weeks. You know I think there’s probably a bonus for him, kind of watching and learning, kind of taking a step back too and watching Mason play.”

It’s a definite bonus for Levis to watch Rudolph run the offense, but it’s probably premature to assume that Levis can step in without any backtracking. He is not Rudolph. There will be hiccups. If he gets in, we’ll see how much those hiccups impact the game.

Titans vs. Chargers: 3 causes for concern in Week 10

The Tennessee Titans square off in a Sunday battle against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10. Here are three reasons for concern.

The Tennessee Titans head west on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Riding the momentum of their overtime win over the New England Patriots last week, the Titans look to continue their winning ways on the road.

But the 5-3 Chargers have their own agenda on Sunday, and they aren’t going down without a fight. The Chargers’ defense is tougher than the Patriots’ defense, and their offense is led by a more experienced quarterback in Justin Herbert than the Titans’ faced in Drake Maye.

This week’s matchup is different in a lot of ways, and while any team can win on any day, there are three causes for concern for the Titans heading into Week 10.

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Continued quarterback controversy

Even though Mason Rudolph was the quarterback in both of the Titans’ victories, head coach Brian Callahan still says that Will Levis will play if he’s healthy. Levis has been sidelined with a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins. He returned after the bye week and failed to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, and he’s been on the injury report ever since.

The biggest problem with this scenario this week is that Lloyd Cushenberry, the Titans’ reliable center, is done for the season with an Achilles injury. So on top of not being sure who will be throwing the ball on Sunday, the Titans don’t know who will play center either. If Dillon Radunz is healthy, Daniel Brunskill gets the nod. If not, we see Corey Levin again, which did not go well last week.

The Titans’ offense has some critical questions to answer before kickoff on Sunday, and preparing for a game in these circumstances is less than ideal.

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Injuries continue to pile up

As mentioned above, Lloyd Cushenberry left last week’s game with an Achilles injury and his season is over. But he’s not the only one who’s dealing with an injury. The Titans have a slew of players on both sides of the ball with some kind of injury. Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley have been playing through injury, and so have Amani Hooker and T’Vondre Sweat. Three of the four offensive players on injured reserve are offensive linemen, and there are five additional players with a questionable status.

On defense, there are six players on injured reserve and two more with a questionable designation.

The Titans can barely field a team at this point, and while they managed to eke out a win last week, it’s not likely to be the same story this week

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The Chargers are not the Patriots

The Chargers are a much more established team than the Patriots. The Titans managed to overcome the Patriots in overtime, but the Chargers’ defense is much stronger. The Titans’ offensive line is in shambles, and they don’t know who the quarterback will be. The Chargers will exploit that and do everything they can to get to the quarterback. And, depending on who the quarterback is, they might find success.

L’Jarius Sneed sitting out with injury for a couple of weeks has paved the way for Amani Hooker and Mike Brown to make some plays, but the Titans would really like to get Sneed back on the field. The defensive front, save for T’Vondre Sweat, is relatively healthy, and the Titans will rely heavily on their strongest piece. But they can’t do it all, either.

The Chargers are one of those teams that is hard to gauge this season because of who they’ve played. Still, it won’t be an easy task for the Titans to walk away with a win on the road. We’ll see if they’re up to the task on Sunday.

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5 Titans players to watch in Week 10 vs. Chargers

The Chargers return home to face a Titans team that lacks a lot of top-tier talent, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

Coming off consecutive victories, the Chargers return to home to face the 2-6 Titans in Week 10. The AFC South has struggled, primarily due to below-average play from the quarterback position.

Tennessee is coming off its second win of the season, albeit against a poor Patriots team. Here are some Titans players that the Chargers will still need to keep their eye on this Sunday to avoid a possible upset.

RB Tony Pollard

Tennessee was expected to have a split backfield this season, but Pollard has completely taken over the job. He’s looked like the 2022 version of himself as he seems to be fully healthy after a gruesome leg injury nearly 24 months ago. Pollard ranks 10th in the NFL in rushing with 622 yards, and he’s added on 135 receiving yards and three total touchdowns as well. The veteran is com

WR Calvin Ridley

Now that DeAndre Hopkins is gone, Ridley is the Titans’ only legitimate threat through the air. In fact, he’s the only Titan with more than 200 receiving yards. In eight games, the 2018 first-rounder has 27 catches for 399 yards and a touchdown. If the Chargers’ cornerback crew is able to slow down Ridley, they should have no problems limiting this Titans offense.

DL Jeffery Simmons

For years now, Simmons has been one of the game’s premier defensive linemen. Despite the team’s lack of success this season, he has still been excellent in every aspect. Simmons is the primary guy that the Chargers offensive line will have to account on every play this weekend. He’s been elite in stopping the run and has added in 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble as well.

S Amani Hooker

Hooker has quietly become one of the league’s most underrated safeties. He’s become a real playmaker for this defense throughout the season. Hooker has three interceptions, seven pass deflections, and two forced fumbles across eight starts. He may be asked to do even more moving forward, as the Titans lost fellow safety Quandre Diggs for the season last weekend.

CB L’Jarius Sneed

Chargers fans are familiar with this name, as Sneed spent four seasons with the Chiefs. He was traded to the Titans this past offseason and eventually signed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension. So far, the deal has looked like a bust. Pro Football Focus has rated him as one of the worst corners in the NFL this season. He’s played just five games due to injuries, but even when he’s been active, the veteran has been ineffective. With how hot the Chargers offense has been lately, look for Justin Herbert to attack Sneed’s side early and often, no matter who he’s guarding.