Titans QB Mason Rudolph steps in for Will Levis in win over Dolphins

MIAMI — The Tennessee Titans received their first win of the season after quarterback Mason Rudolph changed an injured Will Levis halfway by way of the primary quarter Monday. The Titans earned a 31-12 highway victory over the Miami Dolphins, who had been beginning their third quarterback in 4 video games.

Tyler Huntley received the beginning after the Dolphins signed him from the Baltimore Ravens‘ follow squad on Sept. 16 as they proceed to attempt to discover a resolution within the absence of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, however Huntley wasn’t the reply underneath the brilliant lights of Arduous Rock Stadium.

The Titans’ protection swarmed and restricted Miami to 184 complete yards, and so they had been capable of get issues completed on the bottom — dashing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Listed here are crucial issues to know from Monday evening for each groups:

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Issues appeared extraordinarily bleak for the Titans after their 0-3 begin to the season. The win over the Dolphins modifications issues getting into the bye week. The Titans really feel they need to have gained two of their first three video games, however now they are going to have some momentum heading into their bye.

Titans coach Brian Callahan may have rather a lot to consider concerning his quarterback scenario earlier than Tennessee is again on the sector.

Levis left the sport after going 3-of-4 passing for 25 yards. He threw the sport’s solely interception for a league-leading ninth turnover.

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Will Levis leaves sport after diving for the first down marker

Will Levis will get damage attempting to increase his run for a primary down and Mason Rudolph takes over at quarterback for the Titans. (edited)

QB breakdown: Rudolph got here in and executed the Titans’ offense just like the veteran he’s. It wasn’t fairly, however he made sufficient performs to set Tennessee as much as rating. His finest throw was a 26-yard laser to Tyler Boyd that arrange a 53-yard subject aim earlier than halftime. Rudolph completed 9-of-17 passing for 85 yards and no turnovers.

Promising development: The Titans’ dashing offense confirmed up in an enormous means. Their earlier excessive was 61 yards within the opener towards the Bears. Tony Pollard led the way in which with 82 yards, and Tyjae Spears scored the Titans’ solely landing of the sport with a 7-yard run out of Wildcat formation.

Eye-popping stat: Nick Folk, at age 39, grew to become the oldest participant in NFL historical past to make three subject targets of fifty or extra yards in a sport. He completed 5-for-5 on the evening. — Turron Davenport

Subsequent sport: vs. Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 13)

An unpleasant begin to the season received worse for the Dolphins.

The sport marked the Dolphins’ third straight loss, and their file marks their worst begin underneath coach Mike McDaniel. Miami struggled to maneuver the ball with Huntley for many of the evening; Huntley led an 85-yard scoring drive late within the fourth quarter, which remarkably gained extra yards than the Dolphins’ earlier 10 drives mixed (84 yards). Huntley punctuated the scoring drive with a 1-yard run. However after the protection held the Titans to a three-and-out and received the ball again with 2:27 left down 22-12, Huntly was flagged for intentional grounding ultimately zone, and the security thwarted any hope of a comeback. Huntley completed with 96 passing yards after going 14-of-22.

With Tagovailoa out for at the least two extra video games, the Dolphins are susceptible to the season slipping away throughout what was considered the best a part of their schedule. They continue to be the one crew this season to not maintain a lead for even a second, their lone win coming due to a subject aim as time expired in Week 1.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Hanging on. Like, for pricey life, Dolphins followers. If this product would not drastically enhance over the following three weeks, not even the return of Tagovailoa will salvage this season. Huntley was much less efficient than Skylar Thompson — which could possibly be anticipated contemplating he signed with the crew lower than two weeks earlier than making his first begin. After ending the primary half with 77 complete yards, Miami mustered simply 7 yards within the third quarter as Tennessee ran away with the sport.

Eye-popping Subsequent Gen Stat: With out the specter of a downfield passing sport, the Titans stacked the field on eight of the Dolphins’ 17 designed dashing makes an attempt to their working backs. The technique largely shut Miami’s run sport down, as Jaylen Wright and De’Von Achane mixed for 47 yards on 19 carries. Huntley led the crew with 40 dashing yards and Miami’s first landing since Week 2 by scrambling late within the fourth quarter, however the sport was all however over by then.

Early prediction for subsequent week: The Dolphins will lose to the New England Patriots. Huntley clearly isn’t completely comfy inside this offense, and whereas one other week of follow ought to assist, New England will doubtless promote out to cease the run with its ninth-ranked run protection and drive Huntley to win along with his arm. If he would not enhance, it’s going to spell three straight losses and a 1-4 file on the bye for a crew that had Tremendous Bowl aspirations getting into this season. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Subsequent sport: at New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)