Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans have two strikes. A third this week against the Packers and they’ll likely be out. Out of the playoffs.
Since 1990, when the NFL increased playoff berths from 10 to 12, 162 teams have started 0-3 but only four (2.5 percent) have rebounded to reach the postseason. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 1992 San Diego Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills are in that club but the only one to do it over the prior 25 seasons is the 2018 Houston Texans.
In other words, after the Titans upgraded their roster around Levis, he can’t commit a costly turnover for a third straight week when Tennessee hosts Green Bay on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX). The quarterback is well aware.
“Just knowing the times when you have to be uber careful with the ball,” Levis said, courtesy of TennesseeTitans.com. “Whether that’s when you’re in scoring position, a third down where the throw that you’re trying to make isn’t even going to get you the first down, and just having that hit my brain a little more quickly.
“‘What’s the best and smartest thing to do? What’s something you need to keep in your mind because of this situation that can help your team and protect the ball?’ I am just, every day, trying to think of those situations and get better in them.”
One of those situations came last week in the first half of a 24-17 loss to the Jets, drawing the sideline wrath of his head coach, Brian Callahan.
“Yeah, I was upset,” Callahan said after the game. “It was dumb. It was the same exact thing he did last week and he cost us points in the red zone. It is what it is. He’s a grownup and he knows better and so I was really irritated that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed it.”
What Levis needed at that moment, according to former quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, wasn’t a public tongue lashing.
“It’s difficult to play QB in this league, especially as a youngster, and there will be lots of growing pains with Levis,” tweeted Fitzpatrick, who said what he saw caused his blood to boil.
But with all respect to Fitzpatrick, who played for the Titans in 2013, Levis is comfortable with that type of reprimand.
“I didn’t bat an eye at it,” Levis said Wednesday. “I took the coaching, and I was yelling at myself in my head the same way he was yelling at me.”