The Tennessee Titans (1-3) picked up their first win of the season throughout an unsightly “Monday Night time Soccer” matchup, knocking off the Miami Dolphins (1-3), 31-12.
Listed here are 4 of the most important takeaways from Tennessee’s win.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa can’t get again quickly sufficient
Whereas Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion in Week 2, has his shortcomings, Miami’s final two video games have proven why it signed the 26-year-old to a four-year, $212.4M extension this previous offseason. Throughout final week’s street loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Miami solely scored three points with QBs Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle on the helm.
The Dolphins determined to make a quarterback change for Monday’s contest with the Titans, beginning the lately signed Tyler Huntley. Nevertheless, the offense continued to have bother, racking up a mere 184 yards. Huntley was saved in test by the Titans protection, throwing for 96 yards whereas including 40 yards and a landing on the bottom.
In equity to Huntley, he is solely been in Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel’s complicated system for a couple of weeks, however he nonetheless made a number of errors and had some egregious overthrows.
Total, the Dolphins have averaged the fewest factors (7.5) and second-fewest yards per sport (194.5) with out Tagovailoa this season. Opposing defenses have efficiently restricted Dolphins playmakers Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane, and the one clear path to turning issues round is getting Tagovailoa again within the lineup. The Professional Bowl signal-caller is predicted to return in time for Miami’s Week 8 residence conflict towards Arizona.
The Titans ought to follow Mason Rudolph at quarterback
Rudolph, who signed a one-year cope with the Titans this previous offseason after spending his first 4 seasons with Pittsburgh, made his 2024 debut after starter Will Levis suffered a shoulder harm within the first quarter. Whereas he did not gentle up the field rating, Rudolph performed a mistake-free sport, finishing 9 of his 17 passes for 85 yards, and finally could have created a quarterback controversy in Tennessee.
Levis is barely in his second season, however the Kentucky product’s turnover points have been a significant motive why the Titans started the season 0-3. These struggles continued on Monday, as Levis threw one other ill-advised interception earlier than getting injured, his sixth of the season and ninth turnover in whole, each of which lead the NFL.
Throughout his postgame information convention, Titans HC Brian Callahan instructed reporters that Levis is “100%” his beginning quarterback when wholesome. Nevertheless, seeing as if Levis hasn’t proven flashes of being a franchise quarterback, it would make sense to proceed beginning Rudolph.
The 2018 third-rounder Rudolph is nothing greater than a placeholder, however he’s 8-4-1 in his profession as a starter and doubtless offers Tennessee its finest probability of profitable transferring ahead. Callahan has a season-defining determination on his arms coming into the workforce’s Week 5 bye.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier made a mistake letting OG Robert Hunt and heart Connor Williams get away
Final season, the Dolphins completed sixth within the NFL in speeding yards (2,308) and first in yards per carry (5.1) however have not had a lot success on the bottom to start 2024. After speeding for simply 65 yards throughout final week’s loss, the Dolphins ran for 106 yards on 30 makes an attempt (3.5 ypc) on Monday.
After all, Tagovailoa’s concussion has helped opposing defenses shut down Miami’s speeding assault. Nonetheless, it is clear the workforce sorely misses Hunt and Williams, each of whom signed elsewhere this offseason. With out an efficient operating sport, the Dolphins stand little probability of turning their season round, particularly in the event that they should proceed rolling out backup quarterbacks.
Tennessee ought to contemplate buying and selling WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs
Though the Titans lastly gained their first sport of the season, they’re going through an uphill battle to achieve the postseason. Contemplating solely four teams have began 0-3 and went on to make the postseason since 1990, the playoffs appear to be an extended shot for Tennessee. As issues stand, it is likely to be within the Titans’ finest curiosity to begin making ready for 2025, and buying and selling Hopkins to Kansas Metropolis needs to be on the desk.
Hopkins, an impending free agent, did not make a lot of an impression throughout Monday’s win, hauling in two of his 4 targets for 31 yards. Even so, the five-time Professional Bowler remains to be a top quality large receiver in his age-32 season and can be an excellent acquisition for the Chiefs. Kansas Metropolis desperately wants reinforcements at wideout after its battered receiving corps took one other hit on Sunday, with Rashee Rice struggling what is predicted to be a long-term knee harm.
It is price noting that the Titans traded their 2025 third-round choose to the Chiefs as a part of the offseason commerce that despatched CB L’Jarius Sneed to Tennessee. Whereas it is unsure whether or not Hopkins is price a third-rounder, the Titans ought to a minimum of discover attempting to re-acquire their draft choose.
