The New York Jets will visit the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville Sunday. To help preview the matchup, Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com and John Pullano of NYJets.com chatted about the game on the horizon.
What is your favorite matchup of Jets-Titans?
JW: I will start with how the Titans will try and defend Aaron Rodgers and the kind of pressure that they can create coming off a matchup against QB Caleb Williams, who was playing in his first NFL game. This week they will be playing against a guy who has been in the league a long time and is much better at dissecting defenses and manipulating them to get what he wants. How will the Titans defend that? Can they use the strength of their defense to effectively pressure him and force him into a few mistakes? That comes from being disruptive, batting balls and pursuing the football.
JP: The Jets' offensive line versus Titans NT Jeffery Simmons the Titans' pass rush. The Green & white debuted its new-look O-line on Monday against the 49ers to great success. Aaron Rodgers was sacked once and hit twice in 22 drops backs. The run game was uneven – 68 yards (3.6 YPC) – but flashed with a 3-yard rushing score by Breece Hall in the first quarter. As for the Titans, they will be another great test early on for this group that continues to work in three new starters – LT Tyron Smith, RT Morgan Moses and LG John Simpson – into the lineup. Jeffery Simmons, a two-time second-team All-Pro, has been one of the elite interior linemen in the league for four seasons and leads a D-line group that sacked Bears QB Caleb Williams twice last weekend in a 24-17 loss.
The Titans and Jets looked strong on offense in their respective Week 1 matchups before struggling down the stretch. What from the early success could each team build on going into Week 2 and give the opposing team trouble?
JW: I thought the Titans' offense was really great early and not so good late. The key will be sustaining that success through the course of the game. I think they will try and get RB Tyjae Spears involved more in the run game after he had just 4 carries for 21 yards in Week 1. It was a pretty one-sided distribution between Tony Pollard and Spears. Pollard had a strong first quarter including that 26-yard rushing touchdown, but ran out of steam. So, I think it will be closer, but I also think [QB Will] Levis also needs to be more effective in the passing games. They made a lot of moves to bring in players to create more big plays and we just didn't see that as a focus.
JP: The Jets were 3 of 3 on third down during their first-quarter touchdown drive Monday against the 49ers and finished 6 of 10 for the game. A Jets offense has not converted 60-plus-percent of third-down attempts in any game over the last two seasons and has gone above 50% just twice. The last time the Jets converted at least 60% of their third-down tries was Week 9 of the 2020 season. Ending an extensive drought like that means things are moving in the right direction for this Jets unit. In the days since the game, Aaron Rodgers has emphasized the need to get more players involved by spreading the ball around. The Niners controlled the clock allowing the Jets offense to run just 49 plays in Week 1. With continued success on third down and an increase in snaps, HC Robert Saleh should see his offense take off against Tennessee.
The Titans added standout WR Calvin Ridley over the offseason to pair with Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins. Following an up-*and*-down Week 1 performance from QB Will Levis, how do you expect the Titans pass attack to fare against All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner and the Jets stingy secondary coming off its uneven performance?
JW: Will Levis will come out with a lot more to prove after Week 1. I thought he had a good first half and then really unraveled in the second half and made some really poor decisions. I am sure the focus for the Jets will be trying to force him into some of those turnover mistakes again and the Titans will talk to him this week about being careful with the football. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and beat himself up a lot postgame. I think he needs to settle down and get the ball to his playmakers and let game came to him instead of forcing it.
JP: In 9 starts last season, QB Will Levis tossed 4 interceptions and fumbled 7 times. In the Titans' Week 1 loss to the Bears, he threw 2 picks, one of which was a pick-6, and lost a fumble. Beginning his second season as a starter, Levis is still searching for his footing as a pro signal caller, which makes the timing of going against the Jets' dominant secondary less than ideal. The Jets have allowed three 300-plus yard passers in their last 46 games and finished T-eighth in interceptions (17) last season. As pass rusher Jermaine Johnson said Wednesday, Levis is a physically talented passer that is still struggling with his poise and pocket presence. I expect the Jets pass defense to be a great test and potential learning experience for the former Kentucky and Penn State QB.
