{"id":203890,"date":"2024-12-08T20:02:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T01:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=203890"},"modified":"2024-12-08T20:02:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T01:02:11","slug":"toothless-titans-succumb-to-embattled-jaguars-in-week-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/12\/08\/toothless-titans-succumb-to-embattled-jaguars-in-week-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Toothless Titans Succumb to Embattled Jaguars in Week 14"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a battle of lowly teams simply playing out the string, the toothless Titans succumbed to the embattled Jaguars in a stunning 10-6 upset loss. The Jaguars put up a stellar fight on defense to stymy a nascent Will Levis while holding serve on offense. Unfortunately for Brian Callahan&#8217;s charges, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/29\/tennessee-titans-special-teams-a-titanic-disaster\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">undisciplined play<\/a> by the special teams contributed to the effort. Special teams coach Colt Anderson <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TDavenport_NFL\/status\/1865819606113218737\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">argued with a player<\/a> over a returned kick.<\/p>\n<h2>Toothless Titans Succumb to Embattled Jaguars in Week 14<\/h2>\n<p>A common theme reared its ugly head again for these Titans on Sunday afternoon. The defense put up a determined fight until it wilted due to the offense&#8217;s incompetence.\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">The coaching staff could point to no\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/11\/17\/scandalous-plays-land-decisive-impact-for-titans-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">horrific officiating blunders<\/a> <\/span>in this loss. It was a see-saw affair that rivaled the storied Titans vs. Jaguars Thursday night clashes of yesteryear in the first half. The weather was the only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accuweather.com\/en\/us\/nashville\/37243\/weather-forecast\/351090?city=nashville\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">more miserable thing<\/a> than the draconian football that viewers were subjugated to.<\/p>\n<h3>Who is Will Levis?<\/h3>\n<p>The Titans consistently drove down the field on the hapless Jaguars, but they could muster only six points on the day due to missed reads like the one below and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TitansRadio\/status\/1865876252801790410\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">coaching malpractice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Will Levis missed a wide open Chig Okonkwo in the flat on this 4th and goal. Bonus Jeffery Simmons lining up at fullback. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uC3SRCLAvC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/uC3SRCLAvC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Streameast News Network (@StreameastNews) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StreameastNews\/status\/1865834130920845790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Levis injured his shoulder right before halftime after Jaguars EDGE rusher Josh Hines-Allen lowered the boom on a half-ending sack.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trevor Lawrence and Will Levis have both experienced AC sprains this season.<\/p>\n<p>Trevor Lawrence experienced a Grade 2 AC sprain in Week 9 against the Eagles. Between then &amp; Week 13, it worsened to a Grade 3. He opted for surgery in a lost season this past week.<\/p>\n<p>Will Levis\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/O8u1peQDFi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/O8u1peQDFi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tommy R. Callahan III (@yalltitanup) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yalltitanup\/status\/1865869238428192819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He returned to play after the halftime break, showing no ill effects from the potential injury. However, once the adrenaline wears off, the pain might return from a previous injury, so his season and Titans career could end sourly. If this is the end, it was a brief glimpse of what he could be as the young passer showed signs of positive flashes. The practice reports from this coming week are going to be crucial.<\/p>\n<h3>What Happened Next?<\/h3>\n<p>Despite all their attempts to secure a loss, the Titans were given repeated chances to snatch a victory from the hapless Jaguars. In particular, the penultimate drive saw Tennessee drive down to the Jaguars&#8217; 11-yard line and stall out due to hijinks by the receivers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Titans needed a first down and Ridley runs out of bounds <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SjPITbBEzb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/SjPITbBEzb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LaurieFitzptrck\/status\/1865858136243851586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The fourth-down attempt was dropped on an errant but catchable pass by the usually reliable Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Jacksonville gave the ball back with less than a minute left, but Tennessee ended any hope with four consecutive incompletions.<\/p>\n<h3>They Said What Now?<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brian Callahan opens with \u201ca lot of positive things.\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gXyma1oiY9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/gXyma1oiY9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Buck Reising (@BuckReising) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BuckReising\/status\/1865863257065652283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This is a new low for a team scraping the bottom of the barrel when the coach says they had positive things. Although true, it&#8217;s a sign that he&#8217;s lost all sanity and is grasping for anything.<\/p>\n<h4>Callahan on the play that injured Levis<\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brian Callahan explained why he took a shot at the end of the first half instead of taking a knee. Callahan has in the past spoke about the risk vs reward of going for it in hail mary situations: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PuE12X9xMl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/PuE12X9xMl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TDavenport_NFL\/status\/1865864202809692261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Jeffery Simmons politely unleashes on suspect OL<\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m tired of saying the same thing. This sucks\u2026 I\u2019m tired of seeing our quarterback on the ground. I\u2019m tired of seeing him squirreling on the d*** ground actually.\u201d<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Titans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Titans<\/a> DT Jeffery Simmons shows his frustration after losing to Jacksonville. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MYPlL31iZy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/MYPlL31iZy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 104-5 The Zone \ud83d\udcfb (@1045TheZone) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/1045TheZone\/status\/1865874612166291847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A further sign that Callahan has lost control of the locker room is when players backbite each other and subtly call each other out in the media. Yes, the offensive line is <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BuckReising\/status\/1865859739722432934\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an abomination<\/a>, particularly right tackle <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AustinStanley81\/status\/1865852843988554196\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nicholas Petit-Frere<\/a>, but unity is rapidly dissolving.<\/p>\n<h3>What&#8217;s Next?<\/h3>\n<p>The eliminated Titans host the Bengals in a reunion for Brian Callahan and Tyler Boyd. Next week, they will be hard-pressed to win against a Cincinnati team playing for their playoff lives. Principal owner Amy Adams-Strunk may contemplate changes before then as she <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TDavenport_NFL\/status\/1865806367992266900\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">witnessed<\/a> the horrendous display on Sunday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With their loss today, the <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Titans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Titans<\/a> have been eliminated from playoff contention <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CATdrziBye\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/CATdrziBye<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFLonFOX\/status\/1865860003472842985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Jacksonville will also host the similarly victory-destitute Jets in a battle for draft position on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: Denny Simmons \/ The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The toothless Titans fought the embattled Jaguars through four miserable quarters. What happened? What&#8217;s next for these two poor teams?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4788,"featured_media":203907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,11],"tags":[3331,135,32966,7700,9692],"class_list":["post-203890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-titans","tag-calvin-ridley","tag-jacksonville-jaguars","tag-josh-hines-allen","tag-tennessee-titans-news","tag-will-levis"],"modified_by":"Will Koshover, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4788"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203890"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203908,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203890\/revisions\/203908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}