CHICAGO — Brian Callahan's first game as the Tennessee Titans' head coach started with so much promise, and ended with so much disappointment.
The Titans blew a three-score lead to lose 24-17 at Soldier Field on Sunday, with the Bears' game-clinching score coming via an interception returned for a touchdown. The defense didn't allow a touchdown all afternoon, but costly mistakes on offense and special teams left Callahan 0-1 in his coaching career and quarterback Will Levis with plenty to improve upon.
The Titans built a 17-3 first-half lead behind two long touchdown drives and a field goal after the Bears muffed a kickoff. Both touchdowns were big gainers; running back Tony Pollard scampered in from 26 yards out and Levis threw his first touchdown of the season to tight end Chig Okonkwo for 17 yards.
HOW MANY WINS: Vote here in The Tennessean poll: How many games will the Tennessee Titans win in 2024?
The Bears stormed back with 16 unanswered points, setting up their first 10 points with special teams successes, including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Two long Cairo Santos field goals trimmed the Titans lead to one point with 10 minutes remaining.
Will Levis, the new face of the city
Levis' worst instincts doomed the Titans in the fourth quarter. The second-year passer shovel-passed a ball toward the sideline, trying to avoid taking a sack with pressure closing in. But instead of getting the ball out of bounds, he lofted it directly into Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's hands, and Stevenson returned the play for a 43-yard touchdown to give the Bears their first lead.
The Titans' offense accounted for only 43 yards across its first six second-half drives, stalling out and allowing for the Bears' comeback. Levis and the offense returned for a seventh drive with 2:20 and one timeout remaining, trailing by seven. Levis was intercepted again on a fourth down, trying to fit a throw downfield to Tyler Boyd.
Will Levis stats, analysis
Levis finished his day 19-for-32 with 127 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Before the fourth quarter, it was hard to put too much of the blame on Levis. He followed the game plan, checking down when he needed to and spiking a few aborted screen passes into the dirt to keep the ball out of harm's way.
Other than one underthrow on a deep ball to Calvin Ridley, Levis barely came close to turning the ball over early. He ran efficiently, he got the ball out quick and he made clutch throws when needed.
It's tough to reconcile, though, the Levis who was so comfortable checking down and throwing the ball away early with the Levis who cost his team its lead with a foolish decision late.
Derrick Henry who?
As it turns out, moving on from Derrick Henry isn't all that hard. Pollard was crucial in building the Titans' lead, accruing 68 yards from scrimmage in the first half. He accounted for 54 of those on the first scoring drive, capping the series with a 26-yard touchdown run. The score came as a result of the Titans seemingly running the same play twice in a row, stretching Pollard off the left edge behind the lead blocks of rookie left tackle JC Latham and the tight ends.
Pollard finished his day with 82 yards on 16 carries and 12 yards on three receptions.
Keeping Caleb Williams behind the sticks
The Titans' defense held the Bears to a 2-for-13 day on third downs, including an 0-for-6 performance in the first half. In that half, Williams was 1-for-5 passing for negative-1 yards on those third downs as the Titans continued to dial up pressure and prevent the Bears from extending drives.
The Titans have their home opener at Nissan Stadium on Sunday against the New York Jets. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT, and the game will be televised on CBS.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com . Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Levis' foolish pick-six dooms Tennessee Titans in season-opening loss vs Chicago Bears
Local News
