Biggest Winners and Losers from the Titans Loss to the Jets
The Tennessee Titans fell to 0-2 after a demoralizing 24-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. Brian Callahan's unit played an incredibly inconsistent game, filled with mental errors and turnovers, and failed to rebound after a Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears.
There are a ton of winners and losers from this AFC contest for the Titans, but we narrowed it down in this article. That said, let's run through the winners and losers from the two-tone blue's loss to the Jets.
Winner: WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley did have a frustrating drop in the second half that would've been a large gain, but overall, the former Alabama standout had a fantastic afternoon. Ridley hauled in four catches for 77 yards and a miraculous 40-yard touchdown in the second half. The 29-year-old also had a redzone rushing touchdown in the first quarter, which were the first points of the day for either team.
Despite the 0-2 start, Ridley has gotten open often and has done so without his counterpart, Deandre Hopkins, playing meaningful snaps.
Loser: Punt unit
For the second consecutive week, the Titans had a punt blocked. Running back Julius Chestnut deserves the blame for the block, as the 23-year-old completely whiffed on his block.
Special teams coordinator Colt Anderson is off to a disastrous start.
Winner: RB Tony Pollard
Though his efficiency decreased a little on Sunday, Tony Pollard has established himself as Tennessee's clear-cut RB1. The 27-year-old posted 102 scrimmage yards on 22 touches and was an impact player in the receiving game, serving as a security blanket for quarterback Will Levis.
Tyjae Spears left the game with an ankle injury in the second half, so if he misses time, Pollard's role on the offense will only grow.
Loser: WR Treylon Burks
Burks garnered just one target on Sunday, which was a Will Levis' interception. The 24-year-old has been nonexistent to start the season after some training camp buzz and hasn't stepped up with Deandre Hopkins on a snap count.
Though it is still extremely early in the season, Burks' future in Nashville after this season looks bleak.
Winner: LB Ernest Jones
Jones made his first start as a Titan on Sunday and was everywhere. The former Ram totaled nine tackles and two tackles for loss in Week 2 and patrolled the middle of Tennessee's defense with force.
The 24-year-old is one of the best young linebackers in football and is a perfect fit on Dennard Wilson's defense.
Winner: EDGE Harold Landry
Ernest Jones had a great game, but he wasn't the best defensive player for the Titans this afternoon. Harold Landry looks like his old self and is back to haunting quarterbacks. The former Boston College standout posted two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two pass deflections on Sunday and is playing at a Pro Bowl level through two games.
In between: QB Will Levis
Levis had a better outing on Sunday compared to Week 1, but the former Wildcat continues to make bonehead decisions and is one of the primary reasons Tennessee is in a 0-2 hole.
The 25-year-old completed 19 of 28 passes for 192 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Levis also had a costly fumble in the first half, as he tried to do too much and gave the ball away in the redzone.
Levis showed flashes of excellence on Sunday, connecting with Calvin Ridley on a touchdown and some key third downs and using his legs to pick up first downs. But his poor decision-making is costing the Titans winnable games.