Not even the longest pass play of the 2024 NFL season was enough for the Tennessee Titans to pull off an upset Sunday.
The NFC North completed its season sweep of the Titans at Nissan Stadium, where the Minnesota Vikings blasted past the struggling Titans for a 23-13 win. Quarterback Will Levis showed glimpses of his ability to be the Titans’ quarterback of the future, completing 17 of his 31 passes for 295 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ninety-eight of those yards came on an instant highlight where Levis hit receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine streaking down the home sideline for the longest touchdown of Levis’ career, and the longest pass anyone in the NFL has completed this season.
The Titans kept things competitive until midway through the fourth quarter when Levis was sacked on a fourth-and-4 from the Minnesota 43-yard line, ending a Titans scoring threat that could’ve trimmed the Vikings’ lead from 10 points to one score. The defense forced a stop on the ensuing possession and the Titans got across midfield again, but failed to convert on a fourth-and-7 with 2:30 left that iced the loss.
Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold finished his day with 246 yards and two touchdowns, one of which a 47-yarder to receiver Jordan Addison. Minnesota star receiver Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 81 yards and drew multiple penalties in coverage that extended drives.
Huge play keeps things close
Westbrook-Ikhine’s 98-yard touchdown tied the Titans/Oilers franchise record for longest pass play. Circumstantially, the play happened in a moment where the Titans’ odds felt dire. A Vikings punt had downed the Titans inside their own 2-yard line, and a negative play on first down nearly resulted in a safety. After Levis plowed forward for a second-down quarterback sneak, it looked as if the Titans were content to pack up and punt.
But Levis’ sideline heave after Westbrook-Ikhine snuck past the cornerback and got a step on the deep safety swung the game, turning what felt like it could be great Vikings field position with a chance to put the Titans in a three-score deficit into a one-score game.
One drive later, Levis had a 51-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley nullified by an illegal formation penalty. Even without that play, Levis completed passes of 20 yards or longer to four different receivers Sunday. Levis’ 295 passing yards represent a season-high, and the second-best total of his career.
Another week, another controversial call
The Vikings lined up for a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line midway through the second quarter, trying to extend a 7-3 lead. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold dropped back and fired to receiver Jordan Addison crossing through the end zone, but there were three Titans defensive backs in the area and safety Mike Brown leapt to jar the ball loose, seemingly forcing a turnover on downs.
Referee Clete Blakeman and his crew saw the play differently. Brown was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving the Vikings four more chances from the 1-yard line. Callahan was incensed, screaming at the officials to come his direction and explain their call so vigorously that he ended up being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
One play later, Darnold snuck in for the touchdown to expand Minnesota’s lead.
The situation mirrored events from the Titans’ previous game, where the NFL’s replay review team overturned a Titans touchdown by ruling what initially appeared to be a forced fumble as an incomplete pass.
The Titans were penalized 13 times for 91 yards in total Sunday.
Offensive line spotlight
The Titans surrendered five sacks Sunday, and Levis was hit nine times. The right tackle spot was, as usual, the source of a huge chunk of the pressure. Nicholas Petit-Frere, playing for the first time since Week 7, allowed back-to-back sacks before halftime, and his backup Isaiah Prince was flagged for three illegal formation penalties, one of which nullified Ridley’s 51-yard touchdown catch.
Couple these struggles with the fact that the Titans’ rushing attack was non-existent Sunday and it’s easy to see why it took as long as it did for the Titans’ offense to find something that worked.
What’s next?
The Titans travel to Houston for their first bout against the division rival Houston Texans of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be televised on CBS.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick atnsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.