Tennessee Titans (0-2) – New York Jets (1-1): 17-24
If mistakes are what teaches you, Will Levis (19/28, 192 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception) is already approaching sage status. Responsible for three turnovers, including a devastating pick-6 against Chicago last week, the Titans quarterback made another mistake against Aaron Rodgers' Jets. Everything was going well for Tennessee as halftime approached. 7-0 to the advantage of the home team, 1st & goal on the Jets' 7-yard line and a 14-point lead in sight. Before the disaster…
A near-exact copy of last week's pick-6except that the pass in the socks of Tyjae Spears (6 carries, 20 yards, 2 receptions, 11 yards) did not, this time, finish its course in the opposite end zone. The fact remains that Tennessee missed the dream opportunity to put the Jets' heads under water.
Titans defense (again) up to the task against Aaron Rodgers
After limiting the Bears' offense to 148 yards in Week 1, Dennard Wilson's defense faced a different story against the Jets. No longer a rookie quarterback making his professional debut, but a four-time MVP looking for revenge. But here's the thing, Tennessee's defense has a lot of titanic looks at the start of the season. Aaron Rodgers (18/30, 176 yards, 2 touchdowns) and company quickly realized that, very quickly.
On their first three series, the Jets gained only 20 yards and punted three times. Ernest Jones, Kenneth Murray and Jeffery Simmons, in turn, made their classy plays. Enough to allow Will Levis to operate with less pressure. An even greater comfort when, in the meantime, Calvin Ridley (4 receptions, 77 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 run, 10 yards, 1 touchdown) made his mark. his first touchdown of the seasonrunning, all alone like a big boy (7-0). Before the catastrophe then…
Catastrophic because the Jets' fourth offensive series was, itself, of much better quality. Twelve plays, 73 yards and a touchdown by Braelon Allen (7 carries, 33 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 23 yards, 1 touchdown) later, everything had to be redone while Tennessee seemed to control the game (7-7). A final successful advance by the Titans, if not flamboyant, nevertheless allowed Nick Folk to give his team a small advantage before returning to the locker room (10-7).
Hall and Allen, yours to me
Breece Hall (14 carries, 62 yards, 7 receptions, 52 yards, 1 touchdown) couldn't let his rookie teammate steal the spotlight, he immediately asserted his status in the Jets' backfield… From an acrobatic reception on a superb pass from Aaron Rodgers at the start of the 3rd quarter (10-14). After Greg Zuerlein widened the gap (10-17), this match was taking on the appearance of a long, quiet river, until Levis showed the other side of his coin, his nerve and his enormous arm, to go find Calvin Ridley 40 yards further (17-17). With a little luck, but luck favors the bold, doesn't it?
Since we're talking about audacity, trusting a rookie runner selected in the 4th round of the draft isn't bad either. After the reception, Allen distinguished himself in his favorite field, on the ground, in power and speed (17-24). The Titans' final offensive series went as close as the Jets' end zone, but ended on a fourth-down attempt 14 yards short of a game-tying touchdown. The Jets have a welcome first win under Aaron Rodgers, before starting a third game in 11 days on Thursday, when they host the Patriots.
