The Titans WON BABY. FINALLY. Sooooooooo happy! The Titans showed they have some freaking pride.
I of course am aware this was a pretty ugly win over a pretty battered Miami Dolphins team but oh well! The Titans already lost to a backup QB earlier this season, no game is a sure thing, every team has talent. Not easy to win in the league!
I think there are other reasons this win was satisfying too. It was a win on primetime which is always nice. The Titans have beaten the Dolphins on national TV twice in two consecutive seasons and the Titans have now beaten the Dolphins for the third time in a row overall.
The Titans head into the bye 1-3. Not a great record but now the team has a week to rest, study up and process the first month of the season. The Titans also have not played a single divisional opponent yet. It's just one win so realistically I am still not confident the Titans are capable of making any type of noise in 2024. But I always try to be positive as a die hard and theoretically and mathematically the Titans are still kinda in the mix.
When it comes to how the game itself went, the Titans just looked like the better team on the field at this point in time. Defense was outstanding and really locked up Tyreek well. The Titans held Dolphins' running backs Devon Achane and Jaylen Wright to 2.47 yards per carry. Love to see it. Titans rookie defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat continues to play well. Kid is a problem!
Offensively, the Titans played a conservative, run heavy style and I loved to see that as well. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears ran for a combined 127 yards on the ground and each had a rushing touchdown! Tony himself recorded over 100 yards from scrimmage. Tony has been a very solid signing. The potential of this Spears and Pollard combo seems sky high. The offensive line also looked pretty dominant.
Will Levis Shoulder Injury
A big story for the Titans once again came from the quarterback position. Will Levis managed to throw a pick and then get injured in the first half of the first quarter. The injury does not seem too serious. I will gladly be proven wrong but Levis is starting to look like the NFL might not be for him. Looks like he might suck. Maybe he needs more experience, who knows.
Backup QB Mason Rudolph came in the game and looked COMPETENT.
His stats were very limited since the Titans pretty much dominated the Dolphins and ran the ball a ton. But Mason made a few plays, made zero mistakes and managed the game wonderfully. He is by no means that good, but he gave the Titans an actual chance and looked like he knew what he was doing. Mason is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league and is only 29 himself. Levis just feels lost out there sometimes.
Despite Mason's decent performance in the win, it seems the Titans are sticking with Levis...
I like to preach patience with QBs but maybe I'm changing my tune slightly. The team has been so bad with Levis and all of a sudden Mason comes in and wins a game. It didn't even look that difficult for Mason either. The league has been passing the ball less lately, maybe Mason can succeed in a run heavier NFL.
I mean Levis was on the sideline after throwing his interception literally saying he didn't see the defender that picked him off. Said defender was a whole six yards down field and was a freaking DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. How does one not see this large of a human?
The Titans should STRONGLY consider playing Rudolph.
I just am not seeing what Titans coaches are seeing when it comes to Levis at this point.
If Levis becomes some great player, good. I hate being unsupportive but Levis has got to show something soon. It's tough always holding my breath whenever Levis drops back. Maybe Levis watching Rudolph play with some common sense will do Levis some good.
Interesting times for the Titans. But they got a win. This is probably going to be a rollercoaster of a season but this win does ultimately feel good.
The QB situation stresses me out but Levis does have some potential, and Mason's existence on the roster is decently reassuring.
I'm excited to see Pollard and Spears run through some more defenses and I think the defense looks solid too. The Titans have hope-ish.
Thirteen more games still, who knows what is going to happen next!
Colts are in Nashville October 13th. First division game. LET'S GO!!