Tag: Will Levis

Jaguars snap five-game losing streak, beat Titans 10-6

Jaguars snap five-game losing streak, beat Titans 10-6

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) snapped their five-game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Tennessee Titans (3-10), 10-6, to unlock their third win of the season and first since defeating the New England Patriots in London in Week 7.

Tennessee held a narrow lead from its first offensive series until over halfway through the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville running back Tank Bigsby shed two attempted tackles on an eight-yard rush into the end zone, the game’s only touchdown.

The Titans’ offense received two opportunities to match the Jaguars’ score and retake the lead. Tennessee turned the ball over on downs to conclude both possessions, including an 11-play, 61-yard drive that ended at Jacksonville’s nine-yard line.

The Jaguars and Titans combined for seven punts and five turnovers on Sunday, with Jacksonville quarterback Mac Jones tossing two interceptions and Tennessee’s offense failing to convert on fourth down three times in the latter category.

Jones — who took over as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback after the team placed Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder/concussion) on the injured reserve on Wednesday — completed 23-of-31 passes for 220 yards with the two picks against the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense largely suffocated Tennessee’s passing offense throughout the matchup. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones each sacked Levis, and four Jaguars defenders combined for seven pass breakups, including Jones with two.

The Jaguars will host the New York Jets (3-9 and tied with the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter of their Week 14 matchup, 26-26, at press time) at EverBank Stadium, in Week 15, on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Jaguars vs. Titans: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Titans: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars have faced the worst-case scenario of worst-case scenarios the way this season has gone, from playoff expectations in the preseason to likely possessing the No. 1 overall draft choice for the third time in five years.

The 2-10 Jaguars enter Week 14 with the worst record in the league. But they have a chance to put smiles on fans’ faces as they are set to take on the 3-9 Tennesee Titans in an AFC South matchup in Nashville.

Jaguars Wire takes a look at the key matchups that could determine the outcome of Jacksonville vs. Tennessee.

Titans QB Will Levis vs. Jaguars QB Mac Jones

This game will come down to which quarterback makes the fewest mistakes.

Jones and Levis are two quarterbacks who received plenty of hype and attention in their respective drafts but have failed to meet their expectations as signal-callers. Both have been underwhelming since entering the league and their futures with their current teams seem uncertain.

However, both players will square off in this AFC South rivalry game. Mac Jones has thrown for 484 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the last three games, two as the starter and in relief of Lawrence against Houston last week.

Levis has played much better since returning from a throwing shoulder injury in Week 10 than before he missed time.

Levis has thrown for 960 yards with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions in the last four weeks, compared to 699 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions in the first five games of the season. He is making fewer mistakes and operating fairly cleanly.

Jones must protect the ball better for the Jaguars’ offense to beat against the No. 1 passing defense in the NFL. It starts with better consistency and rhythm as a signal-caller to give his playmakers, including rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr., a chance to win downfield, where Jacksonville succeeded in the passing game when Lawrence was available.

If Jones can play a mistake-free game, the Jaguars’ chances of a win increase significantly.

Titans DL Jeffery Simmons vs. Jaguars interior OL

An area of strength for Jacksonville has been its interior line play with guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff along with center Mitch Morse. This week they will be taking on a game-wrecker in defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, one of the best players in the NFL at his position.

That said, Simmons is experiencing a relatively down year. He has generated a 9.7 percent pressure rate this season, ranking No. 49 of 107 qualifying defensive linemen, per NFL Pro.

Still, Simmons has reminded teams just how explosive and quick he can be off the line of scrimmage with 11 quick pressures (tied for tenth-most in the NFL) and 15 run stuffs (No. 3), according to Next Gen Stats.

The Jaguars interior offensive line has allowed some of the lowest pressure rates at right guard (3.9%) and left guard (4.4%) and the fifth-fewest run stuffs in the league (44). The latter stat has allowed the Jaguars to remain in the top half in rushing yards per attempt, at 4.5.

Simmons, along with Titans rookie standout T’Vondre Sweat (27 run stops), will be a big challenge for the Jaguars offensive line.

Yet, if the combo of Scherff, Morse and Cleveland can win at the line of scrimmage Sunday, Jones should play with clean pockets while running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. get to tout the ball for decent chunk gains, potentially leading to win No. 3 for Jacksonville.

NFL analyst: Titans have five weeks to figure out a glaring key issue

One NFL analyst set a goal for the Tennessee Titans and warns that they have just five more weeks to figure it out.

The Tennessee Titans are moving toward the home stretch of this disappointing season and there are many questions that need to be answered before moving into the offseason.

Anyone who watches the Titans can see that right tackle must be addressed in some way. There is no answer currently on the roster and that position is definitely holding the team back.

Besides the right tackle position, questions about the defense and the lack of a pass rush persist, as well as depth questions across the board.

Then there are the questions about the future of quarterback Will Levis, which may be the most important ones heading into this last portion of the season. Levis has been better since returning from injury, but has that been enough to solidify his role moving forward?

According to Pro Football Focus, determining that is the biggest goal facing the Titans for the rest of the season.

Tennessee Titans: Determine your quarterback direction

The Titans’ 2024 season is basically a moot point in terms of outcome, but there’s still plenty hinging on the quarterback position over the next five games. Since returning from injury in Week 10, Will Levis has made some strides, ranking 16th in PFF passing grade with a league-leading 8.9% big-time throw rate. But turnover-worthy plays and pocket presence remain overarching issues. Will Levis display enough to deter Tennessee from drafting a quarterback early, or will Brian Callahan stick to the early-season plan and move on?

The Titans are just 1-3 since his return from a shoulder injury, but he has not been the reason for their losses. Levis has stepped up his game and has been a catalyst in keeping them in striking distance. Most importantly, he has improved his decision-making and is not killing the team with cringe-worthy plays.

PFF is right, this is a major decision that will have a lasting impact on the franchise. Is he the quarterback of the future? Who knows, but Levis will have his next chance to state his case on Sunday when the Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Week 14 action.

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Titans’ Will Levis continues to stack quality starts

Tennessee Titans’ quarterback Will Levis has shown tremendous growth since returning from injury and has head coach Brian Callahan excited.

The Tennessee Titans were outclassed by the Washington Commanders 42-19 on Sunday, but one player came through and stacked another impressive performance. 

Quarterback Will Levis stood out in a good way against the Commanders and had another solid outing. Since returning from injury, Levis has looked like a different player and has shown signs of developing into the player the team had hoped for when selecting him in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. 

Levis, for just the second time this season, did not have a single turnover on Sunday and his consistent leadership was on display. He went 18-for-37 for 212 yards and two touchdowns and was sacked only twice and made an impact on head coach Brian Callahan. 

“Yeah, I think he did some really positive things again,” Callahan said. “He (has) stacked four weeks now of growth and good football. and I thought he made a couple fantastic plays.” 

Next week, Levis will get a chance to continue his growth when the Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first of two divisional matchups against them remaining this season.

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Titans vs. Commanders Player of the Game: QB Will Levis

The Tennessee Titans fell to the Washington Commanders, 42-19, in Week 13 and quarterback Will Levis is our Player of the Game.

The Tennessee Titans traveled to Landover, Maryland on Sunday to face the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.

In a game that started out poorly for the Titans with the Commanders scoring on their first four possessions, the Titans shot themselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties and allowed the Commanders to score 21 points in the first quarter.

Unfortunately, that huge lead was too much for the Titans to overcome and they lost 42-19.

Still, we saw some good things from the Titans as they held the Commanders to 14 points over the remaining three quarters and ended up scoring some points of their own. They never gave up and worked hard to come back, and that was largely thanks to quarterback Will Levis’ play and leadership on the field, which is why he is this week’s Player of the Game.

Levis, for just the second time this season, did not have a single turnover on Sunday. On top of that, he went 18-for-37 for 212 yards and two touchdowns and was sacked only twice, largely because he escaped the pocket or got rid of the ball before being tackled.

For the first time this season, Levis not only played well, but he looked like a leader on the field. He rallied the offense to move the ball down the field and found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the end zone twice. He put the offense on his back this week, and if he continues to do that, the Titans will start seeing success.

Next week, the Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their first of two divisional matchups against them remaining this season.

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NFL Week 13 picks: See who experts are taking in Commanders vs. Titans today

Who are the experts riding with in Week 13?

The Washington Commanders (7-5) host the Tennessee Titans (3-8) in one of the most interesting NFL Week 13 games.

In a meeting of teams with first-year head coaches and young quarterbacks, the Commanders and Titans appeared to be heading in completely opposite directions a few short weeks ago. However, Washington has lost three games in a row — all by one score — while the Titans have played much better behind second-year quarterback Will Levis.

Levis led the Titans to an upset road win over the Houston Texans last week, passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked eight times. Meanwhile, the Commanders were disappointing for 55 minutes against Dallas before the offensive came alive with two Jayden Daniels touchdown passes in the final five minutes. Unfortunately for Washington, kicker Austin Seibert missed the extra point, giving Dallas the upset win.

The Commanders enter Sunday as a six-point favorite over the Titans.

We made our picks. What do the experts think?

According to NFL Pickwatch, 89% of the experts’ picks are going with the Commanders. Last week, 99% of the picks came in for Washington over Dallas.

Can the Commanders avoid another upset before their Week 14 bye?

Prediction and betting odds for Commanders vs. Titans in Week 13

Analyzing Commanders vs. Titans game with odds and lines, predictions and best bets.

The Washington Commanders (7-5) host the Tennessee Titans (3-8) in Week 13 action from Northwest Stadium. The Commanders hope to snap a three-game losing streak before finally hitting their bye next week.

Despite its recent struggles, Washington still has one of the NFL’s top offenses. However, the team will be without two key performers: running back Austin Ekeler, who is now on injured reserve, and right tackle Andrew Wylie, who will miss Sunday’s game. The Commanders will also have to deal with Tennessee’s No. 2-ranked defense.

Below are the latest odds and our final score prediction for Sunday.

Commanders vs. Titans game odds:

All NFL Odds via BetMGM:

  • Point spread: Commanders -6 (-110) / Titans +6 (-110)
  • Money line: Commanders -275 / Titans +220
  • Over-under: 44.5 (O: -110 / U: -110)

Commanders vs. Titans injury updates:

  • Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore: Doubtful (hamstring)
  • Commanders RT Andrew Wylie: Out (concussion)
  • Commanders RB Austin Ekeler: Out (concussion, placed on IR)
  • Titans OT Leroy Watson: Out (back)
  • Titans CB Chidobe Awuzie: Out (groin)

Commanders vs. Titans prediction, pick:

Bryan Manning:

This game looks much different now than it would have a few weeks ago. The Commanders were rolling, and the Titans looked lost. Over the last three weeks, Tennessee has played much better behind second-year quarterback Will Levis. Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels and Washington’s offense isn’t playing at the same level as it was during the first half of the season. On Sunday, the Commanders face a stingy Titans defense. Daniels will find a way to get it done and end Washington’s three-game skid. Commanders 20, Titans 16

Ivan Lambert:

The Commanders come into the game averaging 27.8 points per game, while the Titans have only been able to generate 18.4.

Jayden Daniels has certainly had a much better season than the Titans’ Will Levis. This is illustrated in the Commanders passing for 222.8 yards per game, while the Titans have managed 183.7.

With Austin Ekeler on injured reserve and Brian Robinson injured again last week, Robinson will not be 100 percent.

Thus, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez must be ready to step up and produce. The Commanders have been averaging 147.8 rushing yards this season. While the Titans have only been managing to produce 118.4.

The question will be, what kind of rushing attack can the Commanders generate? If they can’t accomplish a good rushing threat, the Titans’ pass rush will have more success against Daniels. Commanders 20, Titans 17

Serena Burks: Earlier this season, the conversation would have been very different if these two teams had met. Jayden Daniels took the league by storm, and Will Levis looked like he didn’t belong. Now, though, both teams look different. The Titans are on an upswing, while the Commanders have lost three in a row. The Titans’ stout defense will do everything in its power to stop Jayden Daniels, but the truth is, if they can take away his weapons and force Daniels to do it on his own, the Titans have a strong chance of winning. Still, the Commanders are at home and desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. It will be a fun game to watch and it will probably be close in the end, but the Commanders will pull it off at home. Commanders 27, Titans 24

Commanders vs. Titans channel, start time, streaming:

The Commanders vs. Titans game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Brian Baldinger: Titans ‘opened the playbook’ for Will Levis

NFL Insider Brian Baldinger breaks down how Brian Callahan opened up the Titans’ playbook for Will Levis in their upset win over the Texans.

En route to a huge divisional upset, the Tennessee Titans opened up the playbook for Will Levis in Week 12. Brian Callahan knows the Titans need to score points, something that hasn’t come easy this season. After Levis’ improved performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, Callahan decided to give Levis more opportunities.

NFL Insider Brian Baldinger broke down a couple of Levis’ big plays on Sunday:

“He [Brian Callahan] knew that they had to open up the playbook, they had to attack, they had to score some points,” Baldinger says. He talks through the Titans’ attack on a cover-two using four receivers. Tyler Boyd runs a deep cover route in front of the safety, forcing the safety to bite. “This opens it up for Calvin Ridley to attack the deep safety Jimmy Ward and Will Levis let it fly for 63 yards.”

Levis doesn’t get that pass off without some protection, though, which Baldinger also breaks down in the video. Levis needed time to make that throw, and his line actually gave it to him.

The Titans’ offensive line, specifically the right tackle position, has not protected the quarterback well regardless of who lines up under center. But they have had their moments, and maybe they are starting to turn a corner too. Who knows? But they were mostly effective on Sunday, and that needs to continue.

The more Callahan lets Levis do this season, the more comfortable he will be in his position, and the more effective he will be next season.

The Titans next face the Washington Commanders in Week 13 action.

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Brian Callahan on Will Levis: ‘There’s been some positive developments’

Titans’ head coach Brian Callahan opens up on the progress made by quarterback Will Levis and the factors contributing to that progress.

The Tennessee Titans’ season has not gone well at all. They fell to 2-8 with their 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, and in Week 12 they face the AFC South division leading Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

It will be yet another tough test for the Titans, but even in these tough contests, the last few weeks have shown a significant improvement in the play of quarterback Will Levis. Head coach Brian Callahan spoke to the media on Monday about his progress.

First, Callahan discusses the process they’ve used to get Levis to this point. The reps he’s taken, the ability to watch and learn, and the final step is integrating that knowledge into his game. He credits Bryce Oliver for being in the right spot when Levis threw the ball his way after Calvin Ridley’s touchdown was called back for a penalty. But Levis also trusted that his receiver would be in the right place at the right time.

When asked if he thought this was more the coaches scheming up the plays or Levis seeing them better, Callahan replied, “It’s probably both,” citing things Will is doing and he is doing to make these throws happen. “I don’t mean to say that we’ve arrived by any stretch,” Callahan said. “But there’s been some positive developments, and I think we have to keep doing that at a more consistent rate.”

Callahan also commented on the officiating.

He kept it professional and to the point, but it’s clear he wasn’t a fan of how the game was called.

The Titans and Texans face off at 1pm EDT this Sunday.

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Will Levis sets a record for former Kentucky quarterbacks in the NFL

Quarterback Will Levis set a record for the longest pass by a former Kentucky player in the NFL.

Former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, now with the Tennessee Titans, completed the longest touchdown pass by a Wildcat football alumni in NFL history.

Down 16-3 in the third quarter of Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Levis found wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine thirty yards downfield. The receiver beat his man, and streaked up the sideline for a touchdown.

The pass ended up going for 98 yards, which was the longest completed by a former Kentucky quarterback in NFL history.

Related: Where SEC football is at in latest US LBM Coaches Poll

Beyond Kentucky, it was important in a few other respects as well. For one, it tied for the longest pass in Titans history — matching Jacky Lee’s 98-yard touchdown throw to Willard Dewveall from Nov. 25, 1962. It is also the longest passing touchdown in the NFL so far this season.

Although the Titans still lost 23-13, the pass still showed some of the promise Levis displayed at Kentucky that got him drafted.

The Titans took Levis with the first pick of the second round (33rd overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft. Although he hasn’t yet looked like a premium NFL quarterback, Levis has had a few flashes in the pan — like with Sunday’s touchdown.

Levis transferred to Kentucky in 2021 after spending his first two years at Penn State. He appeared in 24 games between 2021-2022 for the Wildcats, throwing for 5,233 yards and 43 touchdowns.