2024 Week 2: Titans 17, Jets 24
This was another game that the Titans should have won but they weren’t able to pull it off, the Titans O-line collapsed in a goal-to-go situation inside of the 2 minute warning.
This was a defensive battle between two of the best defenses in the league, and there’s an argument that both of these could be #1, with Chicago and Pittsburgh in the conversation as well. The Jets defense was hard-hitting and got to Levis a lot, and as we saw last night on TNF the Jets D-line was all over Brissett again.
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QB Report:
- Will Levis (19/28 for 192 yards, 1 TD/1 INT, 4 rushes for 38-0) is the new target for the football media after this game… he already has been but this game is just another reason for them to hate him. Just like in Week 1 Levis tried to be a hero and turn a sack into an incomplete pass. That attempt turned into a turnover yet again. This time it happened early enough into the game where Tennessee was able to bounce back and keep it a ball-game.
- Let’s take a look at some of the other QBs the media has hated:
Baker Mayfield – 2024 MVP at this moment, Jared Goff – one play away from a second superbowl appearance last year, and Kirk Cousins – never “wow’s” but is consistently top 10-12.
- Will Levis is in good company in that regard.
- Levis played much better in this game than he did in Chicago, but he still looks rusty. By mid-season the Titans will have a much different QB than what they have right now, he just needs to get more comfortable in this offense. Trevor Lawrence has gotten years to prove he’s the next best thing but Levis is given less than a season to be written off.
- Aaron Rodgers (18/30 for 176 yards, 2 TDs) also looked a little rusty but he showed on TNF that that rust is gone, he’s back to his former-self.
RB Report:
- Breece Hall (14-62-0, 7 catches for 52-1/8) is the #1 receiver for the Jets and Rodgers is very comfortable with dumping the ball off to him. Breece was on-pace for possibly winning OPOY in this offense until he was banged up and sat out for a few series, giving life to the beast that is Braelon Allen (7-33-1, 2 catches for 23-1/4). Allen was instantly the best running back in this game, and is the best RB from the 2024 draft. Allen will work his way into a split and it’s the best thing the Jets can do for this offense.
- Tony Pollard (17-62-0, 5 catches for 40-0/6) is the lead in Tennessee as I suspected all along, Tyjae Spears (6-20-0, 2 catches for 11-0/2) is just a relief back, despite what the coaches are saying off the field.
WR/TE Report:
- The Titans receiving core is so bad.
- Deandre Hopkins (1-9-0/2) is clearly not ready to be playing football, it will likely be weeks until he gets back to full speed, if he ever fully recovers.
- Tyler Boyd (2-26-0/5) should not be on an NFL roster, he is stealing money from the organization. Rookie Jha’Quan Jackson should fill in for him.
- Calvin Ridley (4-77-1/6, 1 rush for 10-1) doesn’t look great either but he has the most life out of everyone else in this group so Levis is almost forced to throw to him.
- Garrett Wilson (4-57-0/6) is the best receiver the Jets have, no surprise there. As good as he is, Wilson isn't getting the targeting you’d expect out of a player of his caliber. The Jets haven’t played an easy defense yet so we’ll see how Wilson performs down the road. The NYJ backfield is so good they’re going to take a lot of touches away from the pass game.
- Allen Lazard (2-11-0/4) came back down to earth after his 2 TD performance week 1.
- Rookie Malachi Corley (1-4-0/1), who I believe was one of the best WR talents from the draft, finally played and received a target in the first series. I had hoped this would be the start of something but that was his only snap this game.
D/ST Report:
- Will McDonald (4 tackles, 3 sacks) came in after Jermaine Johnson (2 tackles, 1 TFL) tore his achilles and notched 3 sacks, the Titans pass blocking isn’t anything special but 3 sacks is definitely something to keep an eye on.
