The Washington Commanders (7-5) host the Tennessee Titans (3-8) in Week 13 NFL action on Sunday at Northwest Stadium. Washington is trying to end a three-game losing streak against the Titans, who are coming off a surprise road win at the Houston Texans.
Tennessee's defense is excellent, ranking 2nd in total defense. However, the Titans' scoring defense is one of the worst in the NFL. A lot of this can be attributed to quarterback Will Levis' struggles and turnovers early in the season. Levis has been playing better lately, and as a result the Titans are a decent opponent for anyone worth their salt.
What other Tennessee players should you know? We reached out to Serena Burks of Titans Wire who gave us the scoop on the 2024 Tennessee Titans.
SB: The shoulder injury he sustained in Week 4 forced him to sit for several weeks. During that time, he watched as Mason Rudolph, a veteran backup, ran Brian Callahan's offense. As he returned to practice he became more comfortable with his role and was visibly relaxed upon his return. He really took the time to learn what he could and make the necessary changes to his game. It's not perfect and he still has a chance, but the result so far has been a pleasant surprise for Titans fans.
SB: It's a combination. The right tackle position is completely unpredictable and unreliable, and JC Latham has made some questionable decisions on the left side as well. Part of Levis' development, however, is learning when to keep the ball and when to let it go. He takes more sacks instead of throwing the ball to the other team, which presents a learning curve to his decision-making. It's better to keep the ball and lose a few yards than to give it back to the other team. The bags falling on Levis should lessen as you progress. The others, well, that's a personnel issue that will be resolved in the offseason.
SB: Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are currently the Titans' most dominant receivers. Will Levis has a connection to both, but he's not afraid to target any of his tight ends, whether it's Tyler Boyd or Tony Pollard. Still, when Levis throws the ball down the field for a deep one, you can count on it going to Ridley or Westbrook-Ikine.
SB: Absolutely. Where the offense finishes its drives and punts makes a big difference in where the other team starts, and when your special forces unit allows the most punt return yards in the league, opposing teams don't have to go far to finish reach zone. When the defense starts the drive essentially in their red zone, the other team is already within field goal range. It's one of the weakest parts of the Titans' entire game and will be a huge disadvantage for the Commanders when they face Jayden Daniels.
SB: This is a tough question because both teams could get a win this weekend. I think it will be a close game, but I think it's important that Washington plays at home this weekend. They need the win more than the Titans; The Titans just need to keep looking like they're improving. But if they play like they have and the Commanders perform like they did against Dallas last week, the Titans will have no problem getting a win. That is, we will agree with the commanders at home, but it will not be easy, and it will be close!
