Titans still seeking first win of the season

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Titans (0-3) go into primetime still in search of the first win of the Brian Callahan era when they visit the Miami Dolphins Monday night.

The Titans and Dolphins (1-2) are the first half of a Monday night double-header at 6:30 p.m. that also features the Lions and Seahawks, which begins at 7:15 p.m.

Tennessee is desperate for a win after dropping its first three games of the season, but quarterback Will Levis says they cannot panic.

“You can’t go in thinking, ‘We have to win. We have to win.’ It’s just we have to execute. We have to execute the game plan,” said Levis. “There’s no situation that you’re put in that really—unless it’s end of the game, desperation time—where it is appropriate to stray from that game plan or stray from whatever job you have on those plays.”

Has there been a common theme to the three losses?  Absolutely, the Titans have turned the ball over consistently, either costing themselves points or handing points to the opposition.

NFL Turnover Margin:

32. Tennessee Titans (-7)

31. Philadelphia Eagles (-6)

30. Kansas City Chiefs (-4)

14. Miami Dolphins (+0)

“I mean, we’re last in the league in turnover margin,” said head coach Brian Callahan. “We’re minus seven, that doesn’t count the blocked punts. So that’s to me, in my mind, is minus nine in three games. That’s a really, really hard thing to overcome the volume, and the frequency of them and how crushing they’ve been. Even that sack fumble, we’re on the 30-yard line, it’s a two-score game, even if we get a field goal there or at least it’s a ten-point game at the top of the fourth quarter and it feels a little bit different. But then we turn—we get sack fumbled and the ball gets turned over again. And then we haven’t gotten a single turnover on defense through three games which is, I’ve not seen that very often that just can’t get it to break our way right now.”

So, not turning it over against a Miami team struggling to score as well is the number one key to victory tonight. Since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went down with an injury early in week 2, the Dolphins have managed only two field goals.

NFL Scoring Average

32. Miami Dolphins – 11.0 points per game

31. New England Patriots – 13.0 points per game

30. Jacksonville Jaguars – 15.0 points per game

27. Tennessee Titans – 16.0 points per game

The Titans inability to protect Levis and give him time has been a huge problem through the first three weeks. In fact, Levis has been sacked 15 times, but faces a Miami defense that has only had six sacks all season. The Titans offensive line has to take a step forward Monday night and not allow the Miami pass rush to “get right”.

Right tackle is a question for the Titans heading into the game. Nicholas Petit-Frere was benched against Green Bay after giving up a costly fourth quarter sack. He was replaced by second year man Jaelyn Duncan, who did not fair any better protecting the quarterback.

Defensively, the Titans face a struggling Miami offense, but there are some real challenges looming for Tennessee. Star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is doubtful for the game with an elbow injury. Starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is on Injured Reserve with a groin injury.

Meanwhile, on Friday the Titans other starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed showed up on the injury report with a hamstring injury. The possibility of having two backups on the field against star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is a terrifying possibility for Tennessee.

And then there’s the quarterback. With Tagovailoa on I-R, the Dolphins signed Tyler Huntley off of the Ravens practice squad. He is a proven veteran who adds a speed element to the position and last week the Titans struggled mightily in handling Malik Willis out of the pocket with the Packers.

Whether it was running the read option or simply losing containment on the pass rush, Willis torched the Titans repeatedly rushing six times for 73 yards and a touchdown.

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The expectation is for the Dolphins to try to exploit that Monday night and run Huntley early and often with speedy running back De’Von Achane. The pressure will be on rookie T’Vondre Sweat to clog up the middle and on Harold Landry, Arden Key and Jaylen Harrell on the edges to contain Huntley. If either one falters ,it could be a long night for coordinator Dennard Wilson and his Titans defense.

The defense also needs to do something it has not done all season, which is to get the ball out and create a turnover. They have not created a fumble or interception through three games, despite that being a point of emphasis during the entire offseason.

These are two teams struggling to score, and whoever helps the other team do that is probably going to lose.

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