The NFC has been a "Nightmare For Callahan"

No matter how you break it down, it’s been a rough debut for the newest head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Before taking over in Nashville, Brian Callahan was the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. In his last season with that organization, the club was a perfect 5-0 in interconference play.

Now at the helm of the Titans, his new team has had a problem matching up against NFC teams. This Sunday, Callahan’s club has a chance to end this ugly trend when the battle the much-improved Commanders at Washington.

Titans went south vs. the NFC North

Tennessee’s issues vs. the other conference actually began on the opening Sunday in the Windy City. The Titans owned a 17-0 second-quarter lead over the Bears, then wound up giving up the final 24 points in a seven-point loss. What was really incredible was the fact that Chicago finished with 148 total yards, and the team’s offense didn’t score a touchdown.

Two weeks later vs. the formidable Green Bay Packers, the Titans were never really in the game. Tennessee was down 17-7 after one quarter and never really threated Matt LaFleur’s club—led by former Titans’ quarterback Malik Willis. The Titans were outgained 378-237 in total yards. Will Levis threw for 260 yards and two scores, but was sacked eight times and committed three turnovers in a 30-14 setback.

The low-water mark of the season came against the first-place Lions at Ford Field in Week 8. Mason Rudolph was Callahan’s starting quarterback, and the Titans were tied with Detroit at 14-all in the second quarter. However, the NFC North leaders closed out the game with 38 straight points in a 52-14 triumph.

In Week 11 at home, Tennessee’s offense totaled 294 yards in a 23-13 loss to the Vikings. Now keep in mind that 98 of those yards came on a touchdown pass from Levis to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine midway through the third quarter.

The final numbers: Four losses to NFC North teams by a combined 129-58 score. The Titans have been limited to 17 or fewer points in each setback. Callahan’s team has committed 11 turnovers in those contests, and come up with only one takeaway. Finally, Levis and Rudolph have been sacked a combined 16 times in those defeats.

All that being said, the Titans come off a huge win at Houston, while the Commanders have lost three in a row. It should be an intriguing afternoon at Landover.