The Tennessee Titans are facing an early-season crisis after dropping their third straight game in the 2024 NFL season. The team’s latest setback came at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, who handed them a 30-14 defeat, exacerbating an already tumultuous start to the campaign.
Against the Packers, quarterback Will Levis put up a valiant effort, completing 26 of 34 pass attempts for 260 yards and connecting for two touchdowns. However, his performance was marred by two critical interceptions, one of which the Packers returned for a touchdown. The Titans’ offensive line provided little support, allowing Levis to be sacked eight times.
“Again, I'm not going to overreact to an interception. Those things happen. Guys throw picks. We just can't give it to the other team. We keep giving up points the other way. It's hard to overcome,” said Titans’ offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. He added, “We have to play better around him.”
Defensively, the Titans were equally porous, conceding a total of 378 yards to the Packers, with 188 of those coming on the ground. This lack of defensive resilience has been a recurring theme through the first three weeks of the season.
The Titans' woes began with a 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 1, followed by an identical scoreline in defeat to the New York Jets in Week 2. Missteps have plagued the team, and Levis currently has the second-most interceptions in the league, together with three fumbles, making him the NFL leader in turnovers.
“We've not played a complete game in any phase at any point yet,” Callahan lamented. “We're capable of way better than what we've put on the field the last three weeks. No one is coming to save us, so we've got to figure it out.”
In light of these struggles, the Titans recently signed quarterback Mason Rudolph during the offseason. Rudolph brings experience and a modestly successful track record as a starter, evidenced by his 8-4-1 record, with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
This signing became particularly relevant following the offseason departure of Ryan Tannehill, who is now navigating free agency in search of a new team. Tannehill’s exit left a considerable void in the quarterback depth chart, one that Levis and Rudolph are now tasked with filling.
The Titans' immediate future doesn't get any easier as they prepare to face the Miami Dolphins next. The Dolphins, sitting at 1-2, will be another crucial test for a Titans team desperately looking to turn their season around.
Coach Callahan’s assessment underscores a deep need for improvement across all phases of the game. This is a team in dire need of cohesion and execution, qualities essential to dig themselves out of their current predicament. The journey ahead is challenging, but not insurmountable, provided the Titans can find a way to put all the pieces together on the field.