NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans fell to 0-2 on Sunday after a Week 2 24-17 loss to the New York Jets (1-1). It is not the start to the 2024 season new coach Brian Callahan or his fan base was expecting.

Expectations were higher for a team that spent over $419 million dollars this offseason to improve its roster and coaching staff across the board.

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Tennessee Titans Need Significant Improvement from Quarterback Will Levis

While September football is no time to abandon ship, teams have historically struggled to even post record above .500 when they get through the first two weeks without a win. 

According to Bennett Conlin of The Baltimore Sun, since the NFL playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020, 32 franchises have started the season 0-2. Two of those 32 teams (2022 Bengals, 2023 Texans) made it to the NFL playoffs. Only five of the 32 teams finished the season with a winning record.

What distinguishes those two teams that beat the odds from their peers?

Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud are considered two of the best young passers in today's game. Burrow's Bengals dug themselves out of an early hole by rattling off a streak of eight straight regular season wins before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Stroud was a revelation for his Houston squad, breaking all manner of rookie records en route to a 10-7 finish.

Stroud would lead the Texans to a playoff win over the Cleveland Browns before being defeated in the divisional round by the Baltimore Ravens. 

For Tennessee, the biggest question mark they have right now is quarterback Will Levis. In his first two starts as the Titans quarterback this year, Levis has thrown two touchdown passes, three interceptions (including a costly Week 1 Pick Six) and lost two fumbles. Whether or not Levis can be trusted to right the ship remains to be seen, but the early returns have not been impressive.

"It's incredibly frustrating, but at the end of the day, I think we have what it takes on our team to win football games," said Callahan. "We've been in position to win them, and we've made just enough mistakes to not. We clean up those mistakes, we protect the ball better, we get the ball back on defense and we protect our punter, we're going to have a chance. 

"We've had chances even with those things happening, so imagine what it would look like if we could play a cleaner game when it came to taking care of the football. So I believe in our team. I believe in our guys. I believe in the way they work. I believe in what they're made of. And those things to me is it's going to come. It's going to come. We're not going to give up. It's Week Two. We played not anywhere close to our best football, and so we're going to keep going."

Tennessee is one of nine NFL clubs to start their year off without a win through the first two weeks, pending Monday Night Football's result between the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0).

Tennessee hosts the Green Bay Packers (1-1) in Week 3 at Nissan Stadium. Watch/listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 9am CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.

Titans QB Will Levis gives jarring answer after turnover-filled loss to Jets

This is not a trend Tennessee fans want any part of.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.