Titans would hit new low if they lose to Malik Willis, Packers in Week 3

The Titans can’t lose to Malik Willis, right?

The Tennessee Titans (0-2) enter Sunday’s contest with the Green Bay Packers (1-1) at a crossroads in their 2024 season. Owning a winless record of 0-2 already drastically lowers their chances of qualifying for the postseason, historically speaking. Falling to 0-3 would further eviscerate those chances. Doing so by losing to a Malik Willis-led Packers team at home would send this fan base into a downward spiral.

The Titans traded Willis to the Packers right before final cuts because Mason Rudolph won the backup job behind Will Levis. Willis was to be Jordan Love’s No. 2, but was quickly catapulted into the starting lineup after Love suffered a multi-week knee injury in Week 1.

Willis was effective in a Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 12 of 14 passing attempts for 122 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur called an incredibly cautious game, ensuring Willis didn’t have to hold onto the football and go through his progressions, but credit where credit’s due. He threw his first career TD and protected the ball while executing the game plan, avoiding the old bad habits that doomed him in Tennessee (taking bad sacks, etc).

Willis attempted just one pass beyond 30 yards, and two passes beyond 20 yards, according to Next Gen Stats, with 10 of Willis’ passes occurring within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. The Titans can probably expect a similar game plan from LaFleur on Sunday. The Packers will attempt to control the clock through running back Josh Jacobs, who had more than 30 rushing attempts versus the Colts.

Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson needs to blitz the run and have Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat control running lanes. Making Willis beat Tennessee’s secondary with his arm is the correct approach. Expect a full-blown meltdown if Willis sends the Titans to 0-3.