Titans' Callahan optimistic regardless of late gaffe ruining teaching debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What seemed to be a season-opening victory for the Tennessee Titans was utterly put to mattress as quarterback Will Levis dropped to his knees and put his arms on his head.

Levis’ defeating gesture occurred after a determined try to do away with the soccer throughout what he described as a “bone-headed play” after the sport. The Titans had been dealing with a third-and-6 as they clung to a 17-16 lead at their 45-yard line with 7:35 left within the sport.

Chicago dialed up a blitz that despatched nickel nook Kyler Gordon after Levis. Gordon’s blitz flushed Levis proper into the ready arms of DeMarcus Walker.

“Simply take the sack subsequent time child,” Walker said on social media after the sport.

Somewhat than take the sack, Levis tried to throw the ball away, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson picked it off earlier than returning it 43 yards for what can be the game-winning rating.

The Bears went from trailing 17-0 to scoring 24 unanswered.

“We had been taking part in so good on protection,” Titans coach Brian Callahan stated Monday. “It is virtually as if we simply punted it on first-and-10 each time, we would’ve received the sport the best way that we gave it away.”

The Titans’ protection, led by new coordinator Dennard Wilson, held the Bears to solely 148 yards of complete offense and no touchdowns.

Callahan was assured that he might depend on his protection, and he stated he had a dialog with Levis about not attempting to drive something after they had been on the sideline close to the top of the third quarter.

“It was like, ‘Look, they have not achieved something on offense. Our protection is taking part in lights out. We do not have to be distinctive on offense proper now. We’re nonetheless attempting to go rating, however limiting the errors is what is going on to win us this sport,'” Callahan stated.

Aside from a blocked punt that Bears defensive again Jonathan Owens returned for a landing, Ryan Stonehouse was averaging 53.6 yards per punt.

It was the primary time Callahan received to see Levis in a real sport atmosphere. Callahan praised the second-year quarterback for his resiliency, his demeanor, his skill to see and talk what he was seeing.

He understood what Levis was attempting to do, however harassed to the younger quarterback that he cannot make a foul play worse. Studying to know when the journey is over is one thing Callahan and the Titans employees have been working to get Levis to grasp.

Callahan likened the present state of affairs with Levis to his early days because the Cincinnati Bengals‘ offensive coordinator working with Joe Burrow.

“[Burrow] was very related,” Callahan stated. “He would maintain the ball, take pointless dangers, take plenty of hits early in his profession — in his first two years — and he realized in a short time that that is not a sustainable option to play soccer. You retain attempting to get guys to grasp the message and sooner or later it clicks and is smart and the sunshine bulb goes on.”

As a substitute of his teaching debut getting off to a 1-0 begin and breaking a three-year Titans dropping streak in openers, the Bears grew to become the primary workforce in NFL historical past to win a sport through which they trailed by a minimum of 17 factors and had fewer than 150 complete yards. In flip, a banner day for the protection become Caleb Williams turning into the primary quarterback chosen No. 1 to get a Week 1 debut win since David Carr did so with the Houston Texans in 2002 — regardless of solely passing for 93 yards.

Issues do not seem like they’ll get any simpler for Levis and the offense in Week 2 with the New York Jets coming to Nissan Stadium for the house opener Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The Jets allowed the third-fewest yards per sport (292.3) final season.

The Titans are hoping they’ll see extra of the Levis that led them to a few straight scoring drives Sunday, in any other case they may very well be staring an 0-2 deficit within the face.