The Tennessee Titans’ struggles in the second half of games are evident when you look at the numbers, and Jeffery Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, pointed to this as a key reason behind the team’s 2-7 record this season.
“Especially in the second half, it feels like we’re not finishing,” Simmons said Wednesday. “We need to be able to suffocate teams for all four quarters.”
The offense is facing significant challenges, particularly after halftime, as it has trouble scoring. The Titans rank 27th in the NFL, averaging just 17.4 points per game. In the fourth quarter, they are the worst in the league, scoring an average of only 2.9 points per game this season.
Brian Callahan looks onto the field in the 2nd half
Most of their 26 fourth-quarter points came during their largest win of the season on Sept. 30 against Miami, when they scored 12 points in the final quarter. They also added a late touchdown in last week’s loss to the Chargers, but the game was already decided by that point.
First-year head coach Brian Callahan is still adjusting to his play-calling role, but he agrees that the Titans need to perform better offensively in the second half of games.
Even a single additional touchdown per game could make a significant difference. The 7-2 Minnesota Vikings, who visit on Sunday, average 24.6 points per game, ranking 10th in the NFL.
“We’ve been in positions to score and haven’t capitalized, which is why we haven’t won as many games as we should have,” Callahan said. “That’s something we need to address.”
To improve, the Titans also need to cut down on penalties, sacks, and turnovers. They have the second-worst turnover margin in the league, with only the Las Vegas Raiders faring worse. Quarterback Will Levis has been sacked an average of 3.6 times per start, and the team was penalized nine times in their recent game.
When Callahan was hired, Levis had to adjust to a new offense, and then he suffered a right shoulder injury early in the win over Miami. He tried to play through it after the Week 5 bye, but his shoulder wasn’t fully healed, and he threw a late interception in a loss to the Colts.
Levis was sidelined for three games, and backup Mason Rudolph led the team to a 1-2 record during that stretch. Levis used that time to learn and, upon his return, completed a career-high 78.3% of his passes in the loss to the Chargers.
The Titans also managed to avoid turnovers for the first time all season in that game. Levis threw his final touchdown with 49 seconds left, as the Titans worked through their two-minute drill, even though the outcome of the game was already decided.
“The quarterback’s job is to lead us down and score points, and we need to do more of that to give ourselves a chance to win,” Callahan said about Levis. “That’s going to be a big part of what we focus on in the second half of the season.”
Levis appeared more comfortable in his return last week, completing 18 of 23 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns—both to Calvin Ridley. A key moment came when a defensive touchdown was overturned late in the first half, which shifted the game’s momentum.
The Vikings will present a tough challenge on Sunday. They have the third-best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 17.4 points per game.
Levis noted that the Vikings’ defense presents a variety of looks, meaning a quarterback could spend a lot of time trying to decipher their next move.
“At the end of the day, it’s about us executing our responsibilities and making sure everyone is in the right place at the right time,” Levis said.
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