Game Preview: NYJ vs. Titans

Written By Jack Loeb

The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to put away that atrocious game they played last week as they’re set to face off against the Jets in their home opener. The Titans will need to pull out all the stops in order to avoid falling to 0-2. Only 11.5% of all teams since 1990 have gone on to earn a playoff bid after starting 0-2. For the Titans, the high hopes of making it to the playoffs can easily slip further away with a lose this Sunday. Coach Brian Callahan will need to have a much better game plan and halftime adjustment than what was preivously displayed if he’s to have any chance against a really solid Jets team. Although the Jets lost (badly) to the reigning NFC champion the Jets are still plenty loaded and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Titans will need the home crowd and then some to be able to defeat the Jets.

This team starts and ends and with Brian Callahan. The first year coach looked mightily overwhelmed last Sunday as he failed to make the necessary halftime and in-game adjustments. Going so far as to say it would have been better had the Titans just punted every 1st down. The Titans offense out of the gate was extraordinarily lack luster, outside of Tony Pollard running wild on Chicago. However, at times it looked like Todd Downing and Tim Kelly were still calling plays. Specifically the abysmal Treylon Burks run plays that more often than not went nowhere. If you’re drawing up specific plays to get Treylon Burks into the rhythm of the game and it doesn’t involve what he should be best at, playing WR, then that’s a problem. Coach Callahan will need to be much better in his second stint as head coach in an important early game against a tough NYJ team.

After Coach Callahan the next mst important person that needs to step up is Will Levis. Too often during the game against the Bears he looked out of sync with his WR’s and/or loss his passing fundamentals. Levis would consistently drift away from his target when trying to pass the ball which led to underthrown balls or complete misses. That can’t happen when you’ve been surrounded by offensive talent this offseason. The Titans went out and got too many weapons for Levis to blow the season away.

Levis needs to do his part and at minimum that’s not throwing the game away and making the easy throws. The Jets secondary will not make it easy for Levis to find the open windows. Levis had to face off against one of the best CB’s in football last week and he will do the same this week as he will see Sauce Gardner opposite Ridley or Hopkins. If he can take what the defense gives him and doesn’t turn the ball over this should be a close game. If he plays anything like the Bears game it will be tough loss and the franchise ay be faced with difficult decisions to make.

One of the biggest question marks this offseason was the offensive line. The unit did themselves no favors against the Bears as they let Chicago have their way most of the game. Rookie LT JC Latham didn’t play well last week; neither did 2023 first round pick Peter Skoronski, and sprinkle in NPF at RT. Those three were down right horrible. Latham, Skoronski, and NPF had a 45.1, 36, and 59.6 blocking grades from PFF respectively. That’s downright unacceptable. I understand they still need time to gel and it’s basically 5 new starters along the entire offensive line but that just can’t happen against a Bears team that was not known for its ability to pressure the QB. Against the Jets front 7 they could be in for another challenge. CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Javon Kinlaw, and Michael Clemons have the capability to make things difficult for the offensive line. If the troubles continue the Titan will be in for a long day.

To switch gears to some good news the Titans defense played lights out against the Bears. Dennard Wilson had them boys ready! T’Vondre Sweat, Amani Hooker, Sneed, Awuzie, Simmons, et al did what they needed to do to win the game. Although they were playing against a rookie QB; the Bears offense as a whole was shut down. T’Vondre Sweat at times looked like the next Ndamukong Suh. Considereing it was his first start he played quite well. Sweat earned the 2nd highest grade for a Titans defender with 77.7 from PFF. He also earned an 88.1 pass rush grade which is the 2nd highest for all DL in the NFL. If he can continue to wreck havoc on offensive lines this year Sweat and Simmons will be one of the best DL duos in the NFL. They’ll need to be on point in order to stop Breece Hall who has the capability to take it to the house on any given play. The Jets may in turn decide to force feed Hall on the edge instead of the interior due to the formidable duo.

L’Jarius Sneed and Awuzie will have their hands full with Garrett Wilson. Although Wilson didn’t play lights out against the 49ers on Monday Night he still is one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers didn’t look great Monday night and that could be due to age, rust, injury, or any combination of those issues. The Jets did a lot over the offseason to help Aaron Rodgers including adding Mike Williams in the offseason. Williams is a big play WR that the Jets are hoping to 1-2 punch with Garrett Wilson. Williams didn’t record a stat line last week and only played 9 snaps. The Jets are will start to ramp up Williams work load as he works his way back from injury. If Williams is back to his old self that could cause problems for the Titans defense as they try to defend two dynamic receivers + Breece Hall. However, the Titans have received some good news as of recent. Jamal Adams should make his debut against his former team this Sunday. Adams was off the injury report for Friday after suffering an injury early in training camp. The addition of Adams should make this Titans defense even that more dynamic as they try and stifle the Jets offense. But wait, there’s more…Ernest Jones IV should see expanded game action from last week. The newly acquired LB was an absolute force when he was on the field. He played 26 total snaps of 56. If the Titans can get Jones the majority of the snaps on defense over Jack Gibbens this Sunday the Titans defense could really pump the breaks on Rogers’ farewell tour.

The Titans will have their hands full with the Jets this Sunday. I don’t foresee the Titans having as bad as an offensive outing as last week, but I also don’t feel in my bones that the Titans defense will have their way with the Jets as they did Chicago. I believe the Titans will let this game get away from them early and start to claw back but ultimately I have the Titans losing 24-17.

Jack Loeb https://twitter.com/jakjack91
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