NASHVILLE, Ten. — Brian Callahan is taking some time to evaluate whether the Tennessee Titans should keep their starting quarterback on the sidelines. Following a disappointing performance that included four turnovers, including a pick-six, in a 37-27 loss to the Bengals, Callahan made the decision to bench Will Levis. Should Callahan and the Titans opt to start veteran backup Mason Rudolph in their next game against Indianapolis, he indicated that this choice isn’t necessarily a definitive statement about Levis’ future with the franchise.
Callahan emphasized the importance of making sure the Titans are making the right moves with only three games left in their season. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to win,” he remarked, highlighting the team’s current record of 3-11. The Titans need to secure victories in their remaining games to equal last year’s win total, which was inadequate to keep coach Mike Vrabel in his position. The expanded 17-game schedule raises the possibility of exceeding the team’s 13 losses from 2015—a season that contributed to Ken Whisenhunt’s dismissal. The franchise has historically struggled, recording the most losses in a single season during Whisenhunt’s inaugural year in 2014.
The Titans also made a mark in an unusual way last week, being part of the first game since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to involve 10 or more turnovers along with over 25 penalties. Callahan expressed his frustration with the team’s self-inflicted mistakes, stating that he had expected better from his players. “I have a lot of confidence that that’s the right way of doing things and that we’re going to be headed in the right direction,” he added.
On a positive note, the Titans’ defense continues to impress. Although they dropped from the top-ranked passing defense to third after facing the league’s best passing attack, they still managed to force three turnovers from quarterback Joe Burrow. This included an interception that halted Cincinnati’s initial drive and allowed Tennessee to take an early lead. The defense also provided Rudolph an opportunity to lead a comeback from a substantial deficit in the fourth quarter.
However, the offense struggled significantly, achieving consecutive touchdown drives for the first time since Week 4 of last season but committing an alarming six turnovers—a season high. Fortunately for the Titans, a fumble by Tony Pollard did not lead to additional points for the Bengals. This misplay left Cincinnati with just 24 points instead of a potential 31.
Among individual performances, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat stood out as a highlight for the Titans. He not only recovered a fumble by Burrow but also showcased his athleticism by rumbling for 30 yards after the recovery, marking the longest fumble return by a player over 350 pounds in the NFL since at least 1991.
Conversely, Levis’ performance has taken a downturn. He currently leads the NFL in pick-sixes and has thrown a total of 12 interceptions, among the highest in the league. Despite missing a few games due to injury, he has struggled with ball security, contributing to the Titans ranking at the bottom of the NFL with 29 total turnovers.
In terms of injuries, linebacker Luke Gifford is undergoing the concussion protocol after securing an interception early in the game that led to one of the Titans’ touchdowns. Callahan expressed optimism about bringing back some of the injured players into the lineup.
A significant number for the Titans this season is seven, representing the number of losses they have suffered by 10 or more points through 14 games. This statistic highlights how the team has seen a decline compared to the previous two seasons, where they incurred eight such losses combined.
Looking ahead, fans are now hoping for other teams to lose, which could improve the Titans’ draft position for next spring with ambitions of landing a high pick. The last time Tennessee drafted higher than seventh was in 2017, selecting a wide receiver who did not secure a second contract with the team. On the field, the Titans still have a chance to escape the bottom of the AFC South standings when they face Indianapolis in their upcoming match, starting a critical two-game road trip.