The Tennessee Titans and New York Jets face off at Nissan Stadium this Sunday. Both teams are looking for their first win of the 2024 season after dropping their respective season openers.
Behind the return of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets shook some of the rust off their boots last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Rodgers may still be working through his return, but his veteran leadership and natural ability mean he’s still dangerous.
The Titans, behind Will Levis, have a different path on their hands. They aren’t returning to a specific form after getting their starting quarterback back from injury. Rather, they are battling inexperience both on the field and among the coaching staff.
As both teams work to find their identity and solidify their paths, there are three major causes for concern for the Titans this week.
Aaron Rodgers is the Jets’ quarterback
Aaron Rodgers is a future Hall-of-Famer and is already known as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. He ranks at the top of that list with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Brett Favre. His talent, his football IQ, his natural ability to see the field are difficult to combat. Stopping him isn’t an easy task, and even with the Titans’ upgraded defense, they will have their work cut out for them on Sunday.
Brian Callahan is still green
The Titans’ second-half implosion against the Chicago Bears can be laid directly at the feet of first-year head coach Brian Callahan. The Titans looked good in the first half, but Callahan failed to make any meaningful or impactful offensive adjustments to change the course of the game. When facing a team like the Jets, which are led by one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, you have to be ready to make adjustments. Callahan’s ability to recover from last week’s loss will play a huge role in the Titans’ ability to win at home on Sunday.
Offensive woes
This isn’t just about Will Levis being young, just in his second year in the NFL. This is about the amount of time he’s given to make a decision, and it’s about being able to find an open man. The offensive line still allowed three sacks last week, which cannot continue if they want Levis to remain healthy. However, Levis also has to make smarter decisions and utilize his tools. DeAndre Hopkins was all but invisible against the Bears, and the other receivers didn’t have much of an impact. The Titans have to tighten up the offense if they want to win games.