The Tennessee Titans find themselves in a challenging situation early in the 2024 NFL season, starting with two consecutive losses. Their latest defeat came at the hands of the New York Jets, who managed a 24-17 victory. This leaves the Titans with a worrying 0-2 record as they aim for a playoff run this season.
One of the pivotal moments in the recent game was a costly error from Will Levis. The quarterback’s pass to Tyjae Spears led to a decisive fumble, which the Jets capitalized on. Reflecting on the play, offensive coordinator Callahan did not mince words, labeling the decision as "dumb" during his postgame press conference. Levis, known for his risk-taking approach, acknowledged the mistake, emphasizing the need for improved decision-making.
"He told us straight off, he's not a yeller and screamer, but he can be and there's certain situations that allow for that, and that definitely was one of those situations," Levis said. "I didn't bat an eye at it. I took the coaching."
Levis admitted that he shared his coach’s frustration over the mistake, revealing a level of maturity in his response. "I was yelling at myself in my head the same way he was yelling at me," Levis revealed. "I know it's an emotional response that we all have after things like that. We were right back to it, and he had confidence in me on the next play taking that shot. That was cool to feel, coming back on the field after that turnover, even though we had another one after that. I don't have any problem with how he handled himself."
In the first two games of the season, Levis has thrown three interceptions and recorded two fumbles, a troubling statistic for the young quarterback. Analysts point to his recklessness as a contributing factor to his fall in the draft, where he was selected 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Levis himself admitted that he was "a little too reckless" during his college career and has been working to change that mentality, particularly at the professional level.
"I think a lot of people, when they hear gunslinger, they think about recklessness. I definitely feel like I was a little too reckless in my college career and tried to make some throws that I would want to take back. I changed that mentality a bit in my play last year. Just realizing at the level that I was playing at where I had to be that much more careful with the ball. I was proud of how I was able to protect it a little more than I did in my college years," Levis said.
The Titans’ goal for the 2024 season remains the same: to make a playoff run. As Levis put it succinctly, "The goal for the 2024 Titans is to make a playoff run." However, this objective seems increasingly daunting given their early struggles. The upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers will be a crucial test for the team. The Packers will be playing without their starting quarterback Jordan Love, who is sidelined due to injury, leaving Malik Willis to step up in his absence.
Levis’ reaction to the criticism and his self-reflection suggest a maturity that bodes well for his future. However, he must translate this into more consistent and prudent play on the field if the Titans are to turn their season around.
The coaching staff will need to foster greater discipline and better decision-making from their quarterback to avoid further costly turnovers. As the Titans prepare to host the Packers this Sunday, all eyes will be on Levis to see if he can rise to the occasion and lead his team to their first victory of the season. The Titans’ playoff hopes may well hinge on his ability to balance his natural aggression with the necessity for care and precision in his play.