The Tennessee Titans faced another setback on Sunday as rookie quarterback Will Levis was benched during their Week 15 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. This decision came after Levis struggled significantly, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble, leading to the Titans trailing 31-14.
Levis, who was selected by the Titans as the second-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, started the game strong but quickly fell apart. Despite beginning the matchup with promise, the rookie quarterback was plagued by mistakes, throwing his third interception midway through the third quarter. Bengals safety Geno Stone capitalized on this error, returning the ball for a touchdown, which prompted Titans head coach Brian Callahan to replace Levis with backup Mason Rudolph.
The Titans began the game positively, taking a 14-7 lead at one point. Yet, disaster struck when Levis began to turn the ball over, as his interceptions and fumble led to 17 unanswered points from the Bengals. Just moments before his benching, Levis had thrown his interception, marking his fourth pick-six of the season. He completed just 8 of 12 passes for 89 yards with three interceptions, reflecting his struggle to maintain control.
This performance is not isolated; it exemplifies the inconsistency and turnover issues Levis has faced throughout his career. With his latest outing against the Bengals, he now has thrown 13 interceptions across 20 regular-season games. Earlier this season, he had not committed any turnovers for two consecutive games, but those improvements seem to have fallen by the wayside.
Coach Brian Callahan expressed frustration over Levis’s decision-making after earlier games. "He's a grown-up, and he knows you can’t turn the ball over like this," Callahan commented, reflecting on the importance of maintaining possession and making smart choices. This inconsistency has overshadowed Levis's arm talent and athletic ability—the characteristics which contributed to his early selection as the third quarterback off the board during the draft.
The Titans' woes this season are evident, currently languishing with only three wins and ten losses. With Rudolph stepping back onto the field, the Titans hope to capitalize on his familiarity with the first-team offense. Rudolph previously started three games from Week 7 through Week 9 as Levis recuperated from an AC joint sprain. Over those outings, Rudolph posted respectable numbers, completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 721 yards with four touchdowns against four interceptions.
Rudolph entered the game midway through the third quarter, but by then, the damage had already been done. The Titans managed to score two late touchdowns, but the inability to recover from Levis's earlier mistakes sealed their fate, resulting in yet another loss. With the Titans scheduled to face the Indianapolis Colts next week, the decision for who will lead the team under center is yet to be determined.
What’s evident is Levis’s opportunity window continues to narrow. Although he possesses the skills and determination of a promising quarterback, recurring turnovers threaten to derail his progress and future with the Titans. The upcoming game against the Colts will be pivotal for both the Titans and Rudolph as they tackle maintaining the team’s focus and morale amid their difficult season.
The Bengals, meanwhile, continued their push for playoff contention, with quarterback Joe Burrow leading the charge. Burrow completed 26 of 37 attempts for three touchdowns with only two interceptions against the Titans. Running back Chase Brown also made notable contributions, combining both rushing and receiving touchdowns to help secure the victory.
With only a few games left this season, the Titans need to make strategic adjustments, regardless of who is behind center—Levis or Rudolph—as they aim to finish on a high note.
