5 Qs with Music City Miracles

Check out why Titans fans are hoping to lose to the Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have the easiest game left on their schedule this weekend against the Tennessee Titans and they are still favored to lose by at least three points by Draftkings Sportsbook.

The Titans are similarly having a disappointing season while trying to see if their is any value in their rookie quarterback, Will “Billy Jeans” Levis. The difference, of course, is that the Titans didn’t trade next year’s first round draft pick to get Levis and the team has still won three times as many games as the Panthers.

To get the inside scoop on the team and the state of our neighboring fanbase, I spoke with Jimmy Morris over at Music City Miracle. Read on to find out why Titans fans might be OK with losing, their feelings towards Mike Vrabel, disappointing line play on both sides of the ball, and the progress of Levis.

The Titans and the Panthers might be two of the worst teams in the NFL right now. Both head coaches have been publicly adamant about not making staff changes during the season. How do Titans fans feel about that position and who would they like gone if changes are made?

The fanbase is pretty split on Mike Vrabel. Most rational people understand that no one could win with the personnel they currently have. They are bad at pretty much every position on the field as a result of terrible drafts by former GM Jon Robinson. Vrabel had a knack for winning games he wasn’t supposed to win early in his tenure here. He hasn’t done that in the last year as the Titans are 3-14 in their last 17. Even with limited personnel, he needs to find a way to win some games.

As for staff changes, there really isn’t anyone that deserves to be fired at this point. As I wrote about here, there are a few positions that are underperforming, but that’s not because of the guy coaching that group.

Rookie quarterbacks are a roller coaster at the best of times. How’s the ride with Levis been?

A roller coaster. He was great in his debut throwing 4 touchdowns but has been up and down since. To be fair to Levis, he is playing behind arguably the worst offensive line in the NFL. He is getting pressured on more than half of his dropbacks. Even the best veteran QB would have trouble being consistent when pressured that much. He is also throwing to a terrible group of pass catchers other than DeAndre Hopkins – who has been great. We knew his arm was plenty strong to make all of the throws, and we have seen that on display. His decision-making was one of the biggest question marks about him, and he has been pretty good in that department overall. The rest of the season is about seeing what they have in Levis.

The Panthers fall apart against an even halfway mediocre pass rush. How are the Titans faring in that department and who are some names for fans to keep an eye on come Sunday?

Ha, sounds like we will be seeing some terrible offensive line play on both sides! The pass rush was supposed to be on of the best things about this team. They have Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry up front and Harold Landry and Arden Key coming off the edge. That group was supposed to strike fear in the heart of the opposing quarterback but have largely been a non-factor through 10 games. Maybe that will change this week if the Panthers’ line is as bad as you say!

The Panthers might be the only team left on the Titans’ schedule that Tennessee is favored to beat. Are you confident in their ability to beat the Panthers? Alternatively, would a loss to the worst team in the NFL be the final nail in Mike Vrabel’s coffin?

I am not confident in their ability to beat anyone. The personnel is that bad. I won’t be surprised by either result at this point.

Vrabel isn’t getting fired. There have been talks that the New England Patriots could try to acquire Vrabel from the Titans if they part ways with Bill Belichick after the season. Diana Russini reported yesterday that Titans’ controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk believes Vrabel is the right man for the job and isn’t interested in trading him. He’s going to get the chance to turn it around with a (hopefully) a better roster over the next couple of years.

Do Titans fans still have hope? Asking for a fan base that does not.

Nope. It’s all about finding out about Levis and draft position at this point. The best thing that could happen here is Levis play really well and the Titans lose!