CHICAGO — The Tennessee Titans choked away a 17-point lead and lost the 2024 season opener 24-17 to the Chicago Bears.
It was a shocking turn of events in a game that once seemed to be controlled by Tennessee. The Titans ran the ball efficiently in the early going, with RB Tony Pollard running for 57 yards and one touchdown in the first quarter on just seven carries.
But in the second half, the Titans had just 55 yards of total offense and every possession ended with either a turnover or three-and-out. Chicago made a series of game-changing plays on defense and special teams, allowing them to become the first team in NFL history to win a game after trailing by 17+ and recording fewer than 150 yards of total offense.
It was an unprecedented and historic loss for the Titans. Not exactly the way you wnat to kick off the 2024 season or the new era under Brian Callahan.
In the locker room after the game Titans players ranged from shocked, to angry, to optimistic about what's coming. I had a chance to catch up with Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3 receptions, 50 yards), and the recent free agent addition was almost at a loss for words trying to figure out what happened to Tennessee's momentum.
But even with the shocking result, Ridley expressed confidence that the Titans could move on from Sunday and backed his quarterback.
"We just...I don't know. We went down a little bit. We've gotta keep our momentum up, keep our foot on their neck, keep pushing, and be aggressive. I don't know what happened. Momentum changes," said Ridley. "All we can do is keep that taste in our mouth and go back to practice. It's the first game of the season. We wanted to get the win, but we didn't. We've got a lot of time to get better and learn from this and go back to the drawing board."
"We should have won the game. We should have won the game. I mean...We should have won the game. That's all I can tell you. We should have won the game," Ridley continued.
The veteran wide receiver was quick to defend quarterback Will Levis as well. Ridley was not pushing blame on his QB, even with Levis being very self-critical following a three turnover performance.
"I thought he was doing a great job," Ridley said of Levis. "We lost as a team today and we all weren't good enough. Period. He's a tough a player. He's a very good player. I love how he played the game today. We lost as a whole today."
Levis was a detriment to Tennessee on Sunday. But this loss shouldn't define him or the way Titans fans feel about his future. Ridley is right - at the end of the day, all the Titans can do is try to bounce back and keep this taste in their mouth. Stay motivated and ready to battle the New York Jets at home.
Week 1 was a disaster. But weird things happen in Week 1. The next few games are now more critical than ever after losing a game that was once looking like a victory.
Related: Jeffery Simmons offers silver lining after Titans choke away season opener to Bears
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