Following another hard-luck loss for the Tennessee Titans, the franchise and its quarterback, Will Levis, need to do some soul-searching.
The Titans fell to the New York Jets, 24-17, in a game where the offense again struggled mightily, led by Levis, who finished 19-of-28 for 192 yards, a touchdown and two crucial mistakes. During Sunday's loss, he made several mind-bending turnovers, taking potential points off the board.
With 8:46 left in the first half and the Titans up 7-0 in the red zone, Levis, under pressure, threw an ill-advised backward pass, which New York recovered. Meanwhile, he threw a pick on the first play of the offense's next possession, coughing the football off twice in as many plays.
Speaking with reporters following the loss, head coach Brian Callahan took accountability for the offense's failures, saying they were "on me." However, it's clear that his patience for the second-year quarterback is wearing thin, especially when it comes to decision-making.
Callahan wasn't bashful about showing his displeasure with Levis, seen screaming at QB on the sidelines following the fumble. After the game, the first-year coach kept the same energy.
"I was upset. It was dumb. It was the same exact thing he did last week, and he cost us points in the red zone," Callahan said via the Titans. "He's a grown up, and he knows better and so, I was really irritated that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed it."
Costly errors are becoming a trend for Levis. In Week 1, he threw a pick-six late in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears, which proved to be the game-winner in another 24-17 loss.
Levis is all but guaranteed to be the Titans QB in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, but his play as of late doesn't scream starting quarterback. Through two weeks, he's thrown for only 318 yards (38-of-60) while being sacked (seven times) and posting more turnovers (four) than touchdowns (two).
The alternative to Levis is backup Mason Rudolph, who doesn't spark much excitement. However, if the 25-year-old continues to make avoidable blunders, the Titans may have no choice but to look elsewhere.
