Tennessee Titans vs Saints: Our scouting report, bold predictions for NFL preseason game

Posted by author August 23, 2024 NFL

Spread the love

It’s time for Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans‘ final tuneup.

The Titans visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday (1 p.m. CT, WKRN-2) before the 2024 regular season begins Sept. 8 against the Bears in Chicago. Coach Brian Callahan has said Levis and the first-stringers will play roughly three series, marking the most extended look Titans fans will get at the most prominent contributors this summer.

Top-tier defenders Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry III, L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie are excused from Sunday’s game, but every other healthy starter is expected to play. Although the first-team offense scored two touchdowns in two drives in its only preseason action, the first-team defense struggled in its debut, meaning Sunday can be a chance for redemption.

Here are The Tennessean’s scouting report and bold predictions for Sunday’s game.

COOL STORY: Brayden Narveson can’t take Tennessee Titans kicking job, but 59-yarder is good for résumé

Titans offense vs. Saints defense: Is Will Levis ready? Is O-line complete?

Levis played well in the preseason opener, completing 4 of 5 passes for 35 yards. But he didn’t test the field much. Three of his four completions went to running backs, and the fourth was a shallow 6-yard crossing route that Calvin Ridley took for 22 yards with his run-after-catch ability. It’ll be interesting to see if Levis is asked to expand his game against the Saints, or if the Titans try to keep the approach bland.

Equally interesting is whether the Titans’ first-team offensive line is settled. Dillon Radunz and Nicholas Petit-Frere have the lead in the right guard and right tackle competitions, and good performances Sunday can clinch the jobs. But whether it’s Radunz, Petit-Frere or anyone else on the right side of the line, it’s important the unit shows it can play cohesively from left to right and can protect Levis without forcing the young quarterback out of rhythm as frequently as he was last season.

Position battles to watch: QB2 (Rudolph vs. Willis); RB3 (Hassan Haskins vs. Julius Chestnut); TE1 (Chig Okonkwo vs. Josh Whyle); TE4 (Thomas Odukoya vs. David Martin-Robinson) RG (Dillon Radunz vs. Andrew Rupcich); RT (Nicholas Petit-Frere vs. Geron Christian Sr. vs. John Ojukwu vs. Jaelyn Duncan).

MORE ON THE OFFENSE: Titans coach Brian Callahan was real winner of Malik Willis vs Mason Rudolph QB battle

Titans defense vs. Saints offense: Can mid-tier starters produce without big names?

Cornerbacks Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Tre Avery, Eric Garror and Gabe Jeudy-Lally will continue to be tested with Sneed and Awuzie off. Rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat will need to produce without Simmons at his side. Rookie edge rusher Jaylen Harrell (and veteran Rashad Weaver) will need to show they can succeed in Landry’s absence.

None of these things necessarily happened in preseason Week 1. The cornerback battle will be key given the Aug. 27 cut day and few roster spots available. The edge rusher competition is a little less urgent, with Weaver and Harrell both seemingly safe to make the team. But Sweat’s emergence might be the most interesting. He hasn’t made plays in his two preseason drives so far, and his ability to affect games without Simmons will be telling as to whether he’ll be more of a game-changer or a space-eater early on.

Position battles to watch: OLB3 (Rashad Weaver vs. Jaylen Harrell); ILB3 (Chance Campbell vs. Otis Reese vs. Cedric Gray vs. James Williams); CB5 (Tre Avery vs. Gabe Jeudy-Lally vs. Eric Garror).

Offensive Player of the Game: Levis. This might be his only chance to sling it before the season starts. Especially coming off his struggles in joint practices with the Seattle Seahawks last week, expect him to try to make some plays.

Defensive Player of the Game: Quandre Diggs. This’ll be his first opportunity under the lights in a Titans uniform. He probably won’t play much, but he’ll justify the Titans signing him.

Sleeper to Score a Touchdown: Malik Willis. Let’s be bold and call it a rushing touchdown, too. He has run well this preseason; here’s a chance for him to break a long one.

Score prediction: Titans 20, Saints 14. The first-team offense puts up 10 points and the rest of the units put up 10 more, which is enough to win this time and finish the preseason unbeaten.

WINNERS AND LOSERS: Tennessee Titans winners and losers from preseason game: Who impressed vs Seahawks

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.