The Tennessee Titans have had a challenging start to their 2024 NFL season, falling to 0-2 after a 24-17 loss to the New York Jets in Week 2. Central to the Titans' struggles has been the performance and decisions of their young quarterback, Will Levis, who has shown both promise and peril in his plays.
In the critical moments of the game against the Jets, a pivotal error by Levis turned the tide. He threw a pass to Tyjae Spears, which led to a fumble promptly capitalized on by the Jets. The incident drew sharp criticism from Offensive Coordinator Callahan, who minced no words in his postgame press conference, deeming the decision "dumb."
Levis, known for his risk-taking style, bore the brunt of the mistake with grace and reflected on his approach to the game. "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 commented. "I didn't bat an eye at it. I took the coaching."
The young quarterback's reflective attitude extends beyond mere acceptance of coaching messages. Levis admitted to sharing his coach’s frustration over the mistake. "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."
This isn’t an isolated incident for Levis, whose early-season statistics reveal a troubling pattern. In the first two games, he has thrown three interceptions and fumbled twice. Analysts argue that this recklessness contributed to his slide in the 2023 NFL Draft, where he was ultimately selected 33rd overall. Reflecting on his past, Levis said, "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."
Despite these setbacks, Levis is determined to demonstrate that he can evolve and mature as a quarterback. "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," he added.
The 2024 Titans have set their sights high, with a clear goal for the season: to make a playoff run. "The goal for the 2024 Titans is to make a playoff run," Levis stated unequivocally. However, achieving that goal will require tighter execution and fewer costly mistakes moving forward.
Looking ahead, the Titans prepare to host the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. The Packers will be without their starting quarterback, Jordan Love, who is sidelined with an injury. Malik Willis will be stepping in to fill Love’s shoes, presenting a different challenge for the Titans defense. This game offers an opportunity for Levis to redeem himself and guide his team to their first win of the season.
Levis' ability to handle criticism with poise and reflect on his actions suggests a maturity beyond his years. Describing the aftermath of the costly fumble, he noted, "We were right back to it, and [Callahan] 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."
The Titans' faith in Levis as their quarterback is palpable, but it's clear that the young signal-caller must strike a balance between his natural gunslinger tendencies and the need for disciplined decision-making. The upcoming clash against the Packers may serve as a critical juncture in both Levis' development and the trajectory of the Titans' season.