The Tennessee Titans lost 23-13 to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Nissan Stadium, putting their record for 2024 at 2-8.
The Titans weren't expected to win this game, so it's no surprise they lost, but the game would have been very different if they hadn't shot themselves in the foot with 13 penalties for 91 yards. A few of those penalties negated big plays or scoring plays that would have given the Titans momentum.
Overall, however, the Titans are not as bad as they were at the beginning of the season. Despite the ongoing losses, they look better on the field, turnovers have decreased and defense is still the team's strength.
Against the Vikings, there were players who played well and those who didn't. So let's take a quick look at the duds and duds (and studly duds) of Sunday's defeat:
STUDY: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
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Mr. Reliable Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was at work again on Sunday against the Vikings, hauling in a 98-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis to keep the Titans within reach of the game. This game earned him Player of the Game honors as the Titans became increasingly reliant on Mr. Reliable. Against the Vikings, like Calvin Ridley, he was targeted six times, totaling 117 yards and a touchdown.
DUD: RT Isaiah Prince
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Offensive tackle Isaiah Prince was called up from the practice squad on Saturday to replace the injured Leroy Watson. In Watson's absence, Nicholas Petit-Frere started today, with Prince replacing John Ojukwu. Not only was Levis sacked five times, Petit-Frere was also penalized for a false start early in the game, and at the end of the game Prince was penalized three times for illegal positioning. Two of those penalties negated game-winning plays, a 51-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley and a 23-yard first down completion to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Prince wasn't the answer today.
STUDY: WR Calvin Ridley
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Calvin Ridley may not have seen the end zone on Sunday against the Vikings, but he's proving more reliable every week. He caught four passes on six targets for 58 yards and might have caught a touchdown pass if Will Levis hadn't given the ball away at the end of the game. The interception was a pass intended for Ridley, but Levis missed the target and the ball was stolen out of the air by Vikings safety Harrison Smith.
DUD: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
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Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had a really strong rookie campaign in 2024. He was reliable and effective in a defense that spent much of the season without many bodies. But as the season progresses, he fades a bit, and on Sunday against the Vikings, he wasn't the same player we're used to. He recorded just two tackles (one solo) and two penalties against the Vikings on Sunday, but was otherwise unremarkable.
STUDY: Kenneth Murray Jr.
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Even before Jack Gibbens was carted off the field in the third quarter, Kenneth Murray Jr. took charge of the defense on Sunday. He earned an unsportsmanlike contact penalty in the first quarter, but played a flawless game from then on. He led the defense with 10 tackles (five solo), one sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.
Without knowing Gibbens' injury, it's reassuring to know that Murray is ready to step in if things get hairy.
DUD: RB Tony Pollard
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Tony Pollard was virtually non-existent today, carrying the ball nine times for a whopping 15 yards. He added two receptions for 14 yards. Otherwise, you would never know Pollard was on the field today. That was to be expected against a strong Vikings defense, but the mere absence of the ball was a surprise.
STUDENT Jerkass: QB Will Levis
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Will Levis returned to the field last week after missing time out with a shoulder injury. The time off seems to have done him some good as he is definitely making better decisions in the pocket. He connected with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a 98-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and completed 17 of 31 pass attempts for 295 yards and a touchdown. However, he also recorded five sacks for 34 yards and threw one interception.
More stud earrings:
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- WR Tyler Boyd
- DE Jeffery Simmons
- LB Jerome Baker
- CB Roger McCreary
- LB Arden Key
- K Nick Folk
- P Ryan Stonehouse
More DUDS:
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- LB James Williams
- EN James Lynch
- TE Josh Whyle
- TE Nick Vannett
