The Tennessee Titans were unable to bounce back with a win in Week 6 and are now on a two-game losing streak after dropping their London game to the Baltimore Ravens, 24-16.
As a result of that result, the Titans aren’t looking too hot in the NFL power rankings of experts. We start with USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, who dropped the Titans down six spots to No. 25. Here’s what he had to say:
25. Titans (19): QB Ryan Tannehill’s ankle injury effectively sunk Tennessee in 2022. It’s come earlier this year.
As Davis points out, Tannehill’s ankle injury is a big problem for the Titans, unless either Will Levis or Malik Willis can prove to be capable of elevating this team in his absence.
We’ve seen Willis likely still isn’t capable of doing that after a poor showing in his relief appearance in Week 6, and expecting a rookie like Levis to do that is simply asking too much, although he should get a shot.
Now, the rest of our round-up:
Jarrett Bailey, Touchdown Wire: 26 (+1)
Bailey: “What a dung smoothie the Titans are. Malik Willis took 15 snaps after Ryan Tannehill went down- he was sacked on five of them. At least Tyjae Spears is fun?”
Barry Werner, The List Wire: 24 (-1)
Werner: “The Titans are going in reverse and now reside in last place in the AFC South. Ryan Tannehill was injured against the Ravens and Malik Willis looked as inept as he did as a rookie. Will Mike Vrabel be coach of this team next season?”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 25 (-8)
Prisco: “They have issues on offense in a big way, and now Ryan Tannehill is hurt. It could be Malik Willis time.”
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: 26 (-6)
Florio: “Will waiting for a cart while standing on a bad ankle be the final image of Ryan Tannehill in a Titans uniform?”
NFL Nation, ESPN: 26 (-3)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 26 (-1)
Iyer: “The Titans go into their bye with Ryan Tannehill down with an ankle injury. With the season contention fading fast, the big question is will they turn to rookie Will Levis to spark the future of the offense?”
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 26 (no change)
Schwab: “After Sunday’s loss in London, the Titans sounded like they’re questioning everything. Head coach Mike Vrabel couldn’t say the Titans’ issues are correctable. Jeffery Simmons wondered which of his teammates wanted to be there. After a bye week, the Titans have a winnable home game against the Falcons. That’s two days before the NFL trade deadline. If they lose that game, it might be time to trade some veterans.”
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network: 22 (-1)
Miller: “Mike Vrabel has clearly won whatever deal he made with the football gods. The Titans roster, on paper, hasn’t been talented enough to compete for a long time, but they continue to keep games close and find ways to remain in contests even when things appear to be falling apart.”
K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire: 24 (-1)
Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post: 25 (-8)
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: 26 (-3)
Edholm: “Ryan Tannehill’s ankle injury sets up a possible preview for the rest of the season at quarterback. When Tannhill left Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, it was Malik Willis who replaced him. Willis did a pretty decent job in the fourth quarter, even if Tyjae Spears’ 48-yard screen might have inflated the QB’s stats a bit. But with Tannehill’s future with the team already in question before the injury, you can bet the Titans will consider taking a look at Will Levis, too. Levis has been QB3 all six games but now has the door open to show Tennessee why it drafted him with the 34th overall pick in the spring. The Titans aren’t cooked at 2-4, but it feels like evaluating both Willis and Levis supersedes winning at all costs now.”
Josh Schrock, NBC Sports: 26 (-4)
Schrock: “Malik Willis? Will Levis? It doesn’t matter. This season is a wrap for the Titans.”
Bleacher Report: 26 (-4)
