The Tennessee Titans looked to be on their way to a Week 1 upset win over the Chicago Bears. The Titans held a 17-3 lead heading into the locker room at the half but that's where it all fell apart.
The Bears, despite doing next to nothing offensively, found a way to win the game defensively and on special teams. They blocked a Titans punt and returned it for a touchdown and then later on picked off Will Levis and took it to the house. The result was a 24-17 Titans loss and it felt like a gut punch.
Mike Jones of The Athletic wrote about every 0-1 team and discussed what level of panic each team should be feeling right now. For the Titans, he urged the team and the fans to "Temper expectations"
Titans fans should hope for the best but prepare for the worst in 2024
Right off the bat, Jones points out that the Titans did a lot right in their loss. He said that fans should "feel good" about the team getting off to a 17-0 lead and the defensive effort that held Caleb Williams to under 100 yards.
On the other side of the coin, he said fans should be worried about Will Levis' performance. He mentioned that Levis had ball-security issues and also struggled in his decision-making during the eventual 24-17 defeat. It looked even worse when first-year head coach Brian Callahan seemingly threw his quarterback under the bus by noting the team had a better chance of winning if they just punted every time.
Jones concludes with "If the Titans are to force their way into the AFC South picture, they’ll need Levis to play better."
This is true with any team and its quarterback. It's easier to win games when the quarterback is playing at least at an average level. Levis had a nice touchdown to Chig Okonkwo and that's certainly something that should be celebrated.
Titans fans knew this season was going to consist of growing pains from Levis. Fans will have to see how Levis learns and grows from the mistakes he makes and if he proves that he can be the long-term answer for this team moving forward.