5 things you need to know about the Titans Week 2 clash with the Jets

It was a rough 2024 debut for new Tennessee Titans’ head coach Brian Callahan, whose team squandered a 17-0 second-quarter lead in the Windy City in a 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t any better for Robert Saleh and his club. The New York Jets headed west and returned home with a humbling 32-19 loss to the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. Which one of these teams rebounds to avoid a 0-2 start?

All-Time Series Record

There hasn’t been a lot of excitement as of late when it comes to this longtime series that dates back to 1960, when the New York Titans and Houston Oilers were two of the original eight franchises in the American Football League. Of course, those Titans changed their nom de guerre to the Jets in 1963. The Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997, kept that name for two years and in 1999 became the Titans. Got it?

New York has won three of the past four meetings dating back to 2014. The clubs’ last encounter took place three years ago at MetLife Stadium, when the Jets came away with a thrilling 27-24 overtime win in Week 4 over Mike Vrabel’s defending AFC South champions. It was actually the first head coaching victory for Jets’ sideline leader Robert Saleh. The Titans are hosting this series for the first time since 2018.

Quarterbacks: Tale of the Tape

Anyone not expecting Aaron Rodgers to be rusty on Monday night may have forgotten that the last time he played a significant amount of football was the final regular-season game of 2022. Against the 49ers, he connected on 13 of his 21 throws for a modest 167 yards. There was a 36-yard score to Allen Lazard, and a deflected pass that wound up in the hands of Niners’ linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

In last week’s disastrous collapse at Chicago, Tennessee’s Will Levis had done an unspectacular but effective job for the first three quarters. He overcame a pair of sacks, throwing for 87 yards (13-of-22) and a score, while running for 32 yards on three attempts. Then came the final 15 minutes. The second-year pro completed six passes for 40 yards, threw two interceptions (1 returned for a score) and lost a fumble.

Defensive Analysis

Under head coach Robert Saleh and coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets’ defense has emerged as a quality unit. During their debut season in 2021, the team allowed the most total yards in the league. The past two years, the Jets have ranked fourth and third, respectively, in fewest yards allowed per game. That being said, where was that group on Monday night? The Niners amassed 401 total yards in their 13-point win.

It’s hard to do more than Dennard Wilson’s unit did last week at Chicago. The Titans held a new-look Bears’ attack to 148 total yards and kept the team’s offensive unit out of the end zone. That was the fewest yards allowed by any team in Week 1. Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams completed less than half of his passes (14-of-29). Can Harold Landry and company put some heat on Aaron Rodgers this week?

Keys to the Game

Jets: It’s a short week for Robert Saleh’s club, which struggled mightily on defense and especially against the run. The 49ers got 147 yards rushing (28 carries) and a touchdown from super-sub Jordan Mason, and Kyle Shanahan’s club finished the night with 180 yards on the ground. New York’s run defense will no doubt be tested again. Newcomer Tony Pollard had 82 of the team’s 140 yards on the ground vs. Chicago.

Titans: Last Sunday’s loss at Soldier Field no doubt brought back unpleasant memories of a Week 13 overtime home loss a year ago against the Colts. Tennessee’s special teams failed them in that game via another blocked punt return for a touchdown. Colt Anderson is the club’s new special teams coordinator, and keep in mind that in Sunday’s setback to the Bears, the Titans also gave up a 67-yard kickoff return.

Titans Player to Watch

It’s pretty obvious that second-year quarterback Will Levis is in the spotlight after last Sunday’s rough fourth-quarter at Chicago. New Titans’ head coach Brian Callahan recounted what he had to say to his young signal-caller last week (via Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean).

“It’s a conversation that frankly we had on the sideline at the end of the third quarter. "I said, ‘Listen, they haven’t done anything at all. Our defense is playing lights out. We don’t have to be exceptional right now. We’re still trying to win the game, but limiting the errors is what’s going to win us this game.’”

There’s little doubt that Jets’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be looking to rattle Levis early and often. The talented quarterback must keep his poise this Sunday at home, or Callahan may have to have another talk with his current starting signal-caller.